Bills Host Ahtyba Rubin On Visit
Recently cut by the Seahawks, Ahtyba Rubin has generated some interest elsewhere. The veteran defensive tackle took a visit to Buffalo in recent days, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
The Seahawks attempted to shop Rubin prior to cutting him over the weekend, and the 31-year-old defender is attempting to secure a job with a third NFL team. This was the would-be 10th-year veteran’s first known visit since the Seahawks released him.
Rubin played for the Browns for seven seasons prior to signing two Seahawks contacts — the second of which a three-year, $12MM pact in 2016.
The Bills are pivoting back to a 4-3 scheme under Sean McDermott, and Rubin proved solid in that set in Seattle after working as a 3-4 base defender in Cleveland. Buffalo has mercurial superstar Marcell Dareus and longtime cog Kyle Williams entrenched inside but may be on the hunt for a rotational option.
Garafolo NFL.com colleague Ian Rapoport reported the Broncos as a top contender to land Rubin, but nothing’s developed on that front since.
Taylor's Agent Spoke With QB-Needy Teams
Tyrod Taylor‘s agent contacted the Browns, Jets and 49ers prior to the Bills agreeing to a revamped deal with their incumbent starter, Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News reports. After those discussions, Carucci reports Taylor’s camp decided it was best to agree to the reworked Bills pact. The three teams possessed some degree of interest in Taylor had he hit free agency, but it evidently wasn’t enough to dissuade Taylor from staying with the Bills on a contract that now pays him $10MM less over the next two years than it would have under the previous terms. “Maybe a couple less touchdowns, but as far as yardage, I did what I did to get that deal in the first place,” Taylor said, via Carucci, about the adjusted contract. “So whether they thought that I didn’t deserve it, I don’t know. That’s up to them.” Taylor threw for just 12 fewer yards last season (3,023) and rushed for 12 more (580) than he did in 2015. Although, the quarterback played in one more game last season than he did during his first year as Buffalo’s starter.
Bills Put Claim On James O'Shaughnessy
- After being waived by the Patriots on Saturday, tight end James O’Shaughnessy was claimed by a league-high six NFL clubs, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The Bills, Colts, Chargers, Jets, Saints, and Jaguars (who ultimately landed him) all put in claims on O’Shaughnessy, whom New England originally acquired in a draft-day trade with Kansas City. O’Shaughnessy, 25, appeared in all 16 games for the Chiefs in 2016 and spent most of his time on special teams. He’ll be Jacksonville’s third tight end behind Marcedes Lewis and Ben Koyack.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/5/17
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: G Jamil Douglas
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Tony McRae, C Matt Skura
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Eric Lee
- Released: S B.T. Sanders, CB Marcus Sayles
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: FB Alex Armah
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Ben Braunecker
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Rashard Higgins, CB Darius Hillary, S Kai Nacua
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Mark Nzeocha
- Released: WR Brian Brown
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB LaTroy Lewis
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Ronald Martin
- Released: S Andrew Williamson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: CB Raysean Pringle
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: RB Akeem Hunt
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Joseph Jones, CB Craig Mager
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Johnny Mundt, CB Kevin Peterson
- Released: OL Michael Dunn, DL Louis Trinca-Pasat
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Willie Beavers
- Released: LB Trevor Bates, DT Darius Kilgo
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Nordly Capi, WR Travis Rudolph
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Lawrence Thomas
- Released: DL Patrick Gamble
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Ben Boulware, RB Jeremy McNichols
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Kenneth Durden
Bills Place QB T.J. Yates On IR
The Bills announced that they have placed quarterback T.J. Yates on injured reserve. In other QB news, the Bills confirmed that Tyrod Taylor will be ready to go for Week 1 against the Jets. 
Both Yates and Taylor suffered concussions in August, putting the team’s QB depth in serious jeopardy. The team signed Joe Webb on Monday to brace for the possibility that rookie Nathan Peterman would be left as the team’s only other healthy signal caller. Now that Taylor has been given the green light, Webb may or may not stick on the roster as the QB3. Yates will be eligible to return after eight weeks, if the Bills want to use one of their two IR-DTR spots on him.
In other news, the Bills signed safety Colt Anderson and defensive tackle Cedric Thornton. Defensive tackle Deandre Coleman has been released.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/4/17
NFL teams began forming their practice squads on Sunday, but they’re tinkering with them today as they will throughout the season. We’ll keep track of Monday’s practice squad moves here:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE MyCole Pruitt, G Will Pericak, LB Zach Vigil
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Sojourn Shelton, G Cole Toner
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB B.J. Bello, OL Travis Averill
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DE Earl Okine
- Cut: DT Derrick Lott
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste, OLB/DE Carroll Phillips
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Gabe Wright
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: C Cornelius Edison, OT Cedrick Lang
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Demarcus Ayers
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Terrell Sinkfield, DL Patrick Gamble, OLB Geoff Gray, WR JoJo Natson, OLB Freddie Bishop, RB Marcus Murphy
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: C James Stone, DE Max Valles
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: QB Trevone Boykin, WR David Moore, LB Austin Calitro, OT Jarron Jones
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Zach Pascal
Washington Redskins
- Signed: QB Alek Torgersen, WR Dres Anderson, OL Anthony Fabiano
Bills Sign QB Joe Webb
They say networking is everything and connections played at least a small role in quarterback Joe Webb finding his latest job. Sean McDermott‘s Bills have signed the former Panthers QB, according to a team announcement. 
Webb, 30, is technically the Bills’ fourth quarterback after Tyrod Taylor, Nathan Peterman, and T.J. Yates. However, both Taylor and Yates are recovering from concussions, so Webb has been added for depth. In one or both QBs is cleared in time for the season opener, he might get released before he gets a chance to even suit up. If both players are ruled out for the Sept. 10 game against the Jets, Webb could be on the active roster as Peterman’s clipboard holder.
Webb is a versatile athlete who also offers experience at wide receiver. At present the Bills only have five receivers on the 53-man roster: Jordan Matthews, rookie Zay Jones, Brandon Tate, Andre Holmes, and new addition Kaelin Clay.
To make room on the roster, the Bills released safety Colt Anderson.
Mutual Interest Between Patriots, Boldin
Anquan Boldin retired from football this summer and he swears that he is retired for good. However, there was mutual interest between the wide receiver and the Patriots in the wake of Julian Edelman‘s injury, Ben Volin of The Boston Globe hears. 
It doesn’t sound like there’s anything brewing between the two sides at the moment, particularly since the Bills continue to hold his rights after placing him on the reserve/retired list. It’s hard to see a scenario in which the Bills cut Boldin loose to sign with a divisional rival, particularly since his retirement left them high and dry after trading Sammy Watkins to Los Angeles.
Boldin turns 37 in October, but he showed last year that he can still be productive. Boldin joining up with the Patriots seems unlikely, but his itch to play is worth keeping in mind as the season goes on.
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC East
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC East teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s AFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Buffalo Bills
- Claimed:
- LB Deon Lacy
- TE Khari Lee
- T Conor McDermott
- Cut:
- WR Corey Brown (story)
- LB Gerald Hodges (story)
- RB Jonathan Williams (story)
- Cut from IR:
- LB Sam Barrington (story)
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Daikiel Shorts
- WR Brandon Reilly
- OL Jordan Mudge
- DE Ian Seau
- DL Marquavius Lewis
- CB Marcus Sayles
- S B.T .Sanders
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed:
- LB Justin March-Lillard
- K Cody Parkey (story)
- Cut:
- Signed to practice squad:
- QB Brandon Doughty
- TE Thomas Duarte
- T Sean Hickey
- WR Malcolm Lewis
- CB Jordan Lucas
- DE Cameron Malveaux
- WR Drew Morgan
- RB De’Veon Smith
New England Patriots
- Signed to practice squad:
- LB Trevor Bates
- OL James Ferentz
- RB D.J. Foster
- DL Geneo Grissom
- WR Cody Hollister
- DB David Jones
- OL Ted Karras
- DL Darius Kilgo
- DB Damarius Travis
New York Jets
- Claimed:
- WR Kalif Raymond
- LB Edmond Robinson
- WR Damore’ea Stringfellow
- TE Will Tye (story)
- Cut:
- LB Freddie Bishop
- LB Bruce Carter
- RB Marcus Murphy,
- TE Jason Vander Laan
- Signed to practice squad:
- LB Frank Beltre
- OL Ben Braden
- CB Xavier Coleman
- DL Deon Simon
Bills Worked Out QB Joe Webb
The Bills worked out quarterback/special teams ace Joe Webb, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Webb was released by the Panthers on Saturday.
Buffalo currently employs former Carolina executive Brandon Beane as its general manager, so he has some level of familiarity with Webb. While the Bills have three quarterbacks on their roster, two — Tyrod Taylor and T.J. Yates –are dealing with concussions, leaving rookie Nathan Peterman as their only healthy signal-caller.
Last season, Webb appeared in all 16 games for the Panthers while playing mostly on special teams. The 30-year-old also managed one reception and returned six kicks.