3 changes the Buffalo Bills must make to starting lineup before Week 15

Cole Beasley replaces Isaiah McKenzie as slot receiver

The slot receiver has been a big part of this offense prior to this year with Cole Beasley. However, in the offseason, the team decided to make a change by releasing Beasley and went with Isaiah McKenzie and Jamison Crowder.

Unfortunately, Crowder suffered a broken ankle earlier in the season and hasn’t been able to contribute. As for McKenzie, the hope was that he could have a similar impact as he did last year against the New England Patriots by providing some speed and explosiveness from the position.

While that has happened at times, he has had issues with drops. The biggest hole though has been a reliable receiver for Josh Allen in those second and third downs of six or seven yards. This is where Cole Beasley made his biggest impact and McKenzie hasn’t been a reliable pass catcher in those situations.

That is why it wasn’t surprising to see the Bills bring Beasley back to the practice squad. It remains to be seen how quickly he can get back in football shape as he has played only one game this season after signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, he retired shortly after that game.

This move could ultimately be the best for all involved. Josh Allen gets a reliable pass catcher in Beasley who can convert those short yardage downs and moves McKenzie back to being a gadget player for this offense and give Dorsey a player that can be moved around.