TODAY, 4:25pm: It didn’t take long for Cole Beasley to make his way to the active roster. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the wideout has been promoted from the practice squad for tonight’s game.
TUESDAY, 8:40am: After a brief stint in retirement, Cole Beasley is set to play once again in the NFL. The veteran wideout is set to re-join the Bills, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link). The team has confirmed the move.
2022 has been a busy year for the 33-year-old. Beasley was released by the Bills in a cost-cutting move at the onset of free agency, after three seasons in Buffalo during which he remained a productive slot receiver and played a key role in the team’s offense. That led to a healthy market for his services, and the opportunity to land with another contenting team.
That appeared to be the case when he signed with the Buccaneers in September, after being recruited by Tom Brady amidst the team’s uncertainty at the WR position. That deal resulted in only two games with Tampa Bay, however, and the former UDFA made just four catches during that time. Shortly thereafter, Beasley retired from the NFL.
Mere months after that decision, though, he will re-join a Bills team which leads the AFC with a 10-3 record. Garafolo tweets that Beasley will begin on the team’s practice squad, but is likely to be elevated to the active roster soon. Buffalo boasts the league’s sixth-most productive passing attack (averaging 274 yards per game through the air), but the slot has not been a consistent source of success on the year.
Free agent addition Jamison Crowder has been out since Week 4, leaving Isaiah McKenzie as the team’s primary option to operate in a complementary role to Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. The latter two have enjoyed successful seasons to date, but McKenzie has recorded 44 receiving yards or fewer in all but two contests this year. Beasley should be able to at least compete for snaps on the inside and provide Josh Allen with a familiar pass-catching option, having received over 100 targets in each of his seasons with the Bills.
This news also marks the second consecutive day in which an Odell Beckham Jr. suitor has signed a veteran wideout. Beckham’s likelihood to miss the remainder of the regular season – if not more of the 2022 campaign – steered the Cowboys towards T.Y. Hilton, who is able to contribute right away; the same is believed to be true of Beasley. Of the teams which hosted Beckham recently, only the Giants have yet to make a move at wideout, perhaps leaving them as the new favorite to strike a deal should one materialize.
lol
Just chasing that Super Bowl ring.
Allen asked mgmt to bring back Brown & Beasley. If you wanna talk about chasing rings, let’s discuss OBJ. The clown thought he was gonna walk on to his choice of team w/o showing he’s nowhere near being ready to play this season.
I think having expectations in check is a smart move.
Im much more interested in short term veterans like JB and CB than signing a larger multi-year OBJ.
Not sure any of these are real solutions, but at this point in the season I think the Bills made smarter moves than a highly questionable OBJ who seems to really be in this for the contract.
With injuries and poor play in the slot, Beasley provides an inexpensive option. He has better hands than McKenzie
Yes!
I dont mind this swing. Its not like options at this point are plenty.
Low cost, high reward.
Good luck against Philly lol
One of, if not the smartest guys in the league.
Guy gives up a nice warm retirement so he can become a human popsicle in Buffalo during December. Makes you wonder what the guys that aren’t smart are doing.
Not really for coming back to the Bills, more or less because he’s not soft and stands up for what he believes in.
Well when you don’t understand science unfounded beliefs are clearly better.
When you believe the ‘science’ that was used for political gain your beliefs clearly aren’t worth time.
Tell that to Tuskegee project victims and how President Bill Clinton felt it necessary to apologize on behalf of the government scientific community some 25 odd years late. How soon we do forget.
Truth hurts.
My favorite SoundCloud rapper is back!
You got no Beaz to complain