The Buffalo Bills reported to training camp at St. John Fisher University on Tuesday, July 22. Before quarterback Josh Allen and Co. took the field for the Bills’ first practice, the team made some roster moves.
The Bills announced they signed wide receiver David White and tight end Matt Sokol. In a corresponding move, they released punter Jake Camarda and wide receiver Kelly Akharaiyi. White, originally an undrafted free agent out of Western Carolina in 2024, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year.
However, the Jacksonville native tore his ACL during organized team activities and never got a chance to play with the Jaguars. While Buffalo cleared room for the 25-year-old to join their training camp roster last week, the team announced on Saturday that they placed him on the reserve/retired list.
During White’s two seasons at Western Carolina, he caught 54 passes for 903 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. It’s unclear if the decision to retire stems from his injury. Based on recent workout photos he posted on Instagram, White appeared ready to hit the ground running. His decision comes after just three training camp sessions in Buffalo.
The Bills Re-Signed Kelly Akharaiyi Just 4 Days After His Release
Following White’s sudden retirement, the Bills immediately brought back Akharaiyi, an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State. In his lone season with the Bulldogs, he recorded 25 receptions for 391 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games.
Before transferring to Mississippi State, he spent two seasons at the University of Texas at El Paso. During his tenure with the Miners, he registered 69 receptions for 1,308 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 24 games.
Akharaiyi firstsigned with Buffalo following the 2025 NFL draft. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein wrote of the prospect, “Well-built, speed-deficient receiver who might need to bump inside as a possession slot to have a fighting chance as a pro. Akharaiyi had only one season of impressive FBS production and that came at UTEP in 2023.
“He lacks the suddenness to consistently separate underneath and won’t outrace NFL cornerbacks down the field. He needs to keep making strides as a route-runner and win contested catches at a higher rate to become a functional NFL target.”
Josh Allen Working With a Committee of Wide Receivers in 2025
GettyFormer Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer at SoFi Stadium on November 25, 2024.
Much like last season, the Bills are moving forward with an “everybody eats” mentality on offense. Allen’s pool of top wide receivers includes Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, and Elijah Moore. Looking to be a key part of the committee, former Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer, who signed a three-year, $29 million contract with Buffalo in March.
Palmer is already impressing Allen. The league’s reigning MVP referred to the 25-year-old as “one of the best” receivers he’s been around.
“His separation with his feet. His body language. His catch radius is one of the best I’ve ever been around,” Allen told reporters on the first day of training camp.
While Palmer’s struggled to stay health over the past two seasons, his best year came in 2022 when he registered a career-high 72 receptions for 769 yards and three touchdowns.
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