Buffalo Bills Roster Cuts: James Hardy And 5 Players On The Bubble

One week from today, on August 31, rosters around the National Football League will be trimmed down to 75 players. Four days later, on September 4, they get cut down to the final 53 players.

This is a difficult time for the coaching staff, as they must evaluate preseason game tape as well as training camp and practice notes to see who will stay and who will be sent packing.

This slide show previews 10 players currently on the Buffalo Bills roster that may get cut by September 4.

WR James Hardy

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 14: Wide receiver James Hardy #81 of the Buffalo Bills reaches up to make a tochdown catch late in the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on September 14, 2008 in Jacksonville, F

When the Bills drafted James Hardy in the second round out of Indiana, the team thought they had found a big, physical target that could take some pressure off of Lee Evans.

At 6'5", 220 pounds, Hardy is a prototype of what you look for in a No. 1 wide out. Unfortunately, Hardy has been plagued by injuries since coming into the league, and has caught only nine passes in 14 appearances.

While healthy, Hardy was constantly getting outperformed in training camp by Chad Jackson and David Nelson, an undrafted free agent of roughly the same size.

With all the young talent striving to make the Bills roster, Hardy may not make the cut.

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - JANUARY 3: Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Buffalo Bills passes the ball during their NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at Ralph Wilson Stadium on January 3, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills defeated the Colts 30-

Ryan Fitzpatrick was brought to the Bills for the 2009 season, and he completed 56% of his passes for 1422 yards, nine touchdowns, and ten interceptions, while splitting playing time with Trent Edwards.

The Buffalo Bills also have Brian Brohm, and seventh round draft selection, Levi Brown, a rookie out of Troy on the roster.

Fans in Buffalo are rooting for Brohm to win the starting job over Trent Edwards, leaving little room for Fitzpatrick.

RB Chad Simpson

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TORONTO, CANADA - AUGUST 19: Chad Simpson #30 of the Buffalo Bills runs with the ball during game action against the Indianapolis Colts on August 19, 2010 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Brad White/Getty Images)

The Bills brought in Chad Simpson from the Indianapolis Colts prior to training camp, but he may be on his way out. The emergence of the former Wayne State standout, Joique Bell, could be pushing Simpson to the roster bubble, after his two impressive preseason performances.

The Bills currently have a lot of depth at the running back position, and with four quality running backs, they could use the roster space elsewhere.

LB Keith Ellison

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - AUGUST 15: Linebacker Keith Ellison #56 of the Buffalo Bills looks on from the sideline during the preseason game against the Chicago Bears on August 15, 2009 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won 27-20. (Pho

Bills fans have waited four seasons for linebacker Keith Ellison to have a breakout season. Unfortunately, at just 229 pounds, Ellison doesn't fit the mold for your prototypical 3-4 linebacker.

Ellison made 68 tackles last year before getting injured in a week eight loss to the Houston Texans.

Now, Ellison's only role could be on special teams, but with the lack of depth on the roster, the Bills may opt to use someone who fits the 3-4 linebacker, rather than keep a player simply for one role.

CB Reggie Corner

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DENVER - DECEMBER 21: Reggie Corner #27 of the Buffalo Bills returns a fumble by Brandon Marshall #15 of the Denver Broncos in the third quarter during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on December 21, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. The Bills defeated

Another Bills player that fans are rooting for, Reggie Corner can't seem to find a way to  stop opposing wideouts. In both of the preseason games, Corner tried too hard to make plays and ended up getting beat.

Corner fit very well playing in nickel or dime situations in zone coverage, but his small frame (5'9", 175 pounds) may not be big or strong enough to compete with the larger and stronger wide receivers he would face off against this season: Randy Moss, Brandon Marshall, Greg Jennings, Calvin Johnson, Anquan Boldin, Ochocinco, and Terrell Owens.