Bills add CB D.J. Miller Jr., release S Wande Owens in corresponding training-camp move

The Buffalo Bills have signed cornerback D.J. Miller Jr. and, in a corresponding move, released safety Wande Owens, according to a report published July 31, 2026. The transaction continues the team’s ongoing work managing its training-camp roster, where clubs often weigh developmental upside against immediate role fit across position groups.

Miller Jr. enters Buffalo as a young defensive back prospect who has UFL experience, a detail that matters because it suggests the Bills are looking at recent game reps beyond the traditional college pipeline. In late July, that kind of evaluation is typically part of how teams test coverage skills, ball-tracking, and special teams willingness against live competition rather than only through offseason drills.

Owens, released by Buffalo as part of the same move, has been described in the report as a talented and athletic safety. While the Bills have not publicly tied the decision to a specific on-field issue in the available reporting, releasing a player in a corresponding transaction usually indicates a roster-number balancing act, often paired with the desire to keep a tighter group at a crowded position.

The report also notes that WGR550’s Sal Capaccio first indicated the Bills were making the change, with the signing of Miller Jr. and the release of Owens handled together. That “one-in, one-out” framing is common during camp buildouts and can report that a particular replacement need emerged during the evaluation process.

For the Bills, the practical impact is a shift in the defensive back depth chart heading into the stretch where teams sort out starters, first-team backups, and the players most likely to contribute on special teams. Even when the moves are not about immediate game-day roles, training camp offers the first real chance to see how new defensive backs communicate in the secondary and adjust to the coaching staff’s scheme.

Bills fans will be watching how quickly Miller Jr. translates his coverage work into Buffalo’s playbook language and whether he can win reps in practices that determine who earns meaningful opportunities. At the same time, Owens’ release will be something to monitor from the perspective of whether other teams view his athletic profile as a quick plug-in option elsewhere.

Because the available report is not an official transaction posting from the Bills or the NFL and does not provide contract, waiver, or further roster details, some specifics remain unclear. What is confirmed here is the pairing of actions: the signing of Miller Jr. and the release of Owens, both tied to Buffalo’s camp roster management.

As camp continues, Buffalo’s later roster cuts and additions will offer the clearest picture of what the Bills believe Miller Jr. can do for them, and whether the safety group they retain reflects an emphasis on experience, coverage range, or physicality at the line.