Orchard Park, NY (My Sportsbook) - Running back Dominic Rhodes and offensive lineman Kirk Chambers were among the most notable names released by the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, as the team reduced its roster to the 53-player maximum.

Rhodes, who was signed by Buffalo as a free agent during the offseason, was thought to represent insurance while starter Marshawn Lynch serves a three- game NFL suspension to start the year. But head coach Dick Jauron team apparently felt comfortable with Fred Jackson and Xavier Omon at the position, in turn releasing the more experienced Rhodes.

The 30-year-old Rhodes has 3,114 career rushing yards and 32 touchdowns during an eight-year NFL career spent with the Indianapolis Colts and Oakland Raiders.

Chambers, meanwhile, was excised after serving as the Bills' primary reserve at tackle over the past two seasons. The Stanford product and former Cleveland Brown played in all 32 games for Buffalo over the past two seasons, making five starts over that span.

Also released on Saturday were quarterback Matt Baker, linebacker Alvin Bowen, defensive end Copeland Bryan, tight end Tyson DeVree, defensive end Ataefiok Etukeren, guard Christian Gaddis, running back Bruce Hall, defensive back Cary Harris, wide receiver C.J. Hawthorne, tackle Nick Hennessey, wide receiver Felton Huggins, defensive tackle Derrick Jones, defensive tackle Corey Mace, linebacker Ryan Manalac, offensive lineman Brandon Rodd, and tight end Jonathan Stupar.

Of that group, notables include Bryan, who appeared in 15 games as a backup last season, and Harris, the team's sixth-round draft choice out of USC this past April.

In another move, the team placed wide receiver James Hardy on the Physically- Unable-to-Perform (PUP) list as he continues to recover from knee surgery.

The Bills will open their regular season on Sept. 14, when they travel to meet the New England Patriots in a primetime contest.