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DT Jordan Phillips Re-Signs With Bills

November 6th, 2024 at 10:05am CST by Sam Robinson

Two Bills defensive tackle reunions will take place Wednesday. Jordan Phillips joined Quinton Jefferson in being released Tuesday, and the recent Cowboys defender will make his return to Buffalo as well.

Not long after coming to terms with Jefferson, the Bills announced they have brought back Phillips. Both are back on one-year deals. The Phillips addition comes after his Instagram post indicated (h/t AllDLLS.com’s Clarence Hill) he would welcome a return to Buffalo. This will be the 10th-year D-lineman’s third stint with the team. This agreement will also mark a third 2024 employer for Phillips, who has moved from the Giants to the Cowboys back to the Bills.

The Bills rostered Phillips from 2018-19 and again from 2022-23, first claiming him off waivers from the Dolphins and then coming to terms on reunion No. 1 after a Cardinals release. This agreement comes after the Cowboys moved Phillips out of their IR-return window and into free agency. Dallas had acquired Phillips via trade from the Giants but only used him in two games.

Phillips and Jefferson filled two open roster spots, one of which created by the team placing D-end Dawuane Smoot on IR on Tuesday. The AFC East leaders now roster six DTs, joining a group already housing Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Austin Johnson and Zion Logue. The Bills also hope rookie DT DeWayne Carter will come off IR at some point this season, The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia notes. The Bills placed the fourth-round rookie on IR nearly two weeks ago.

This DT infusion comes as the Bills completed the season’s first half 17th in run defense. Although Buffalo sits eighth in points allowed, its now-Bobby Babich-run defense has seen some issues develop in the run game. Phillips, 32, stepped in as Jones’ primary replacement last season and should now be expected to play a depth role behind Oliver and Jones upon returning. Phillips has played just 34 defensive snaps this season, going on IR with a wrist injury in Dallas.

Phillips’ 2023 season ended due to a dislocated wrist, capping a nine-start campaign. He signed a one-year, $1.75MM Giants deal, putting off retirement, only to be traded within the NFC East in August. Phillips disputed the Cowboys’ decision to place him on IR in September, claiming his wrist was not damaged. Having been back at Cowboys practice for two weeks now, Phillips appears ready to join Jefferson — a healthy scratch over the past four Browns games — as well-rested cogs familiar with Sean McDermott‘s scheme.

The Bills saw Phillips lead their 2019 playoff team in sacks, with 9.5, but that turned out to be an outlier season. He has been more of a run stopper since, not eclipsing three sacks in a season during the 2020s. Jefferson operates as more of an interior rusher, and the Bills will cover multiple bases with their Wednesday reunions.

Bills To Bring Back DT Quinton Jefferson

November 6th, 2024 at 9:26am CST by Sam Robinson

By cutting Quinton Jefferson before Tuesday’s trade deadline, the Browns allowed the veteran defensive lineman to avoid the waiver wire. Picking his next destination, Jefferson will choose one of his former teams.

The well-traveled defender will return to his 2020 club, with cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reporting the Bills are making an addition. Jefferson continued his nomadic career after a 2020 Buffalo one-off, but after Cleveland cut him Tuesday, he will fill one of the Bills’ open roster spots.

Buffalo cleared up a spot by putting defensive end Dawuane Smoot on IR. While Jefferson and Smoot’s skillsets do not overlap entirely, the former will still capitalize on an opportunity to jump from a 2-7 squad to the AFC-leading club that sits 7-2.

Jefferson, 31, had drifted to healthy-scratch status in Cleveland, seeing the Browns drop him out of their DT rotation after authorizing a one-year deal worth $4MM. The Browns shopped him but did not end up finding a trade partner. He will rejoin Ed Oliver in Buffalo’s DT corps, which also includes DaQuan Jones, Austin Johnson and Zion Logue.

This return comes three-plus years after the Bills released Jefferson. Buffalo had been the former Seattle draftee’s first free agency stop, signing him to a two-year, $13.5MM deal. Jefferson played all 16 games in 2020, logging four starts during the first of the Bills’ four Sean McDermott-era AFC East championship teams. After the release, Jefferson made his way to Las Vegas (2021), back to Seattle (’22) and to the Jets (’23).

Although Jefferson only tallied one sack in five games this season, he posted a career-high six with the Jets last year and finished with 5.5 during a return one-and-done with the Seahawks. He also combined for 42 QB hits from 2021-23, providing the Bills with some inside-rushing potential after they did not make a defensive addition at the deadline. Jones’ two sacks represent the most from a Bills D-lineman this season, as Oliver has not built on his 9.5-sack 2023; the former first-rounder has one to go with five QB hits through nine games.

2024 NFL Trades

November 5th, 2024 at 10:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

We have reached the 2024 trade deadline, which came one week later than the league’s usual endpoint. An offseason measure to move the deadline back one week passed, sliding the deadline beyond Week 9 after it had resided the Tuesday following Week 8 since 2012. That opened the door to more activity this year.

The 2024 offseason also featured extensive work, as teams added starters and depth pieces. Here are the trades involving veteran players (or rookies already drafted) to take place this year:

March 4

Bears chose defensive end Austin Booker at No. 144

March 9

Broncos sent Seahawks No. 136, included 203 in trade with Jets for QB Zach Wilson

March 10

Patriots chose QB Joe Milton at 193

March 11

Bucs drafted WR Jalen McMillan at No. 92; Lions traded No. 201 to Eagles

Panthers traded down from No. 39, giving Rams access to DT Braden Fiske; team moved No. 141 in Bills deal that sent WR Xavier Legette to Carolina. Giants chose RB Tyrone Tracy at 166.

March 12

Bengals chose DB Daijahn Anthony at No. 224 

March 13

Texans traded No. 232 to Vikings

Ravens chose WR Devontez Walker at No. 113, QB Devin Leary at 218; Jets drafted RB Braelon Allen at 134

March 14

Commanders traded Nos. 78, 152 to Eagles in trade that sent CB Cooper DeJean to Philadelphia; Seahawks moved down from No. 102, drafted G Sataoa Laumea at 179

Bolts traded No. 110 to Patriots 

March 15

Steelers chose LB Payton Wilson at No. 98; Eagles traded No. 120 to Dolphins in package that brought back 2025 third-rounder

March 16

Fields must play in 51% of Steelers’ offensive snaps for pick to elevate from sixth to fourth round

March 22

Chiefs traded No. 221 to Bills; Titans chose OLB Jaylen Harrell at 252

March 29

Pick would have become second-rounder had Reddick played 67.5% of Jets’ 2024 defensive snaps and recorded at least 10 sacks. Reddick’s holdout ensured Philly’s pick will land in Round 3.

April 3

Texans dealt No. 189 to Lions for Nos. 205, 249

April 12

Browns chose CB Myles Harden at No. 227

April 22

In trade that gave Vikings J.J. McCarthy draft real estate at No. 10 overall, Jets sent No. 203 to Minnesota; Broncos chose C Nick Gargiulo at 256

April 27

May 9

August 9

August 11

August 14

Dallas carried Phillips on its active roster for two games, meeting minimum requirement for conditional sixth to transfer

August 22

Pick did not convey due to Commanders cutting York before he played in two games with team

August 23

August 24

August 26

August 27

August 28

October 14

October 15

Pick would upgrade to second-rounder if Adams earns first- or second-team All-Pro recognition or is on Jets’ active roster for 2024 AFC championship game or Super Bowl LIX

October 23

Pick would become fourth-rounder if Hopkins both plays 60% of Chiefs’ remaining offensive snaps and Kansas City advances to Super Bowl LIX

October 28

October 29

Robinson’s playing time will determine if Jags pick climbs to a fourth-rounder and whether Vikings will end up receiving 2026 seventh

November 4

November 5

Sixth-rounder going to New Orleans comes from pick Saints sent Commanders for John Ridgeway 

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/5/24

November 5th, 2024 at 9:07pm CST by Ely Allen

Tuesday’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Commanders

Free Agent

We don’t have a reason for Moreland’s suspension yet, but we know that it will last three weeks. He hasn’t played in the NFL since 2021, but if a team were to sign him, he wouldn’t be available for three games.

Bills Release S Mike Edwards

November 5th, 2024 at 12:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

12:02pm: Rather than subject Edwards to the waiver wire, the Bills will give the veteran a break by cutting him early. With no trade coming to pass, the team announced the Edwards release. Because Buffalo cut him before the 3pm CT deadline, he passes straight to free agency.

11:16am: Mentioned as a player on the trade block, Mike Edwards looks set to make his Buffalo stay short. The Bills are planning to cut the veteran safety if they cannot trade him today, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes.

The former Buccaneers and Chiefs defender sits behind Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin and second-round rookie Cole Bishop at safety. Although the Bills have run into memorable safety injuries in the recent past, they appear fine parting with Edwards. The Bills made him available recently and have until 3pm CT today to deal him.

Buffalo showed interest in Julian Blackmon this offseason, hosting him on a visit, but ended up signing Edwards. Blackmon then agreed to a one-year deal to stay in Indianapolis. Edwards signed a one-year, $2.8MM deal with the Bills more than a week into free agency. The agreement did not produce notable playing time, as the former third-round pick has seen just seven defensive snaps this season.

Edwards, 28, asked for the Buffalo exit, per Pelissero. The Bills separated from their seven-year safety duo, cutting Jordan Poyer and not re-signing Micah Hyde. The team had re-signed Rapp and have Hamlin in a contract year. After barely playing in 2023, following an inspirational recovery from cardiac arrest, Hamlin has commandeered a starting job. The Bills chose Bishop 60th overall and have used him primarily as their third safety. Versatile DB Cam Lewis also gives the team a depth option; he has played in front of Edwards this season.

Injuries at the position plagued Buffalo during training camp; this included Edwards battling a hamstring malady. But the perennial AFC East champions saw their situation clear up not too long after. Edwards returned by Week 1 but has been unable to land playing time, despite the two-time Super Bowl champion playing a starting role down the stretch for the Chiefs last season.

Edwards has 28 career starts on his resume. Filling in for an injured Bryan Cook in Kansas City last year, Edwards played 97% of the snaps in Super Bowl LVIII and at least 93% of the Chiefs’ defensive plays in two other postseason games.

Bills To Place DE Dawuane Smoot On IR

November 4th, 2024 at 4:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite Dawuane Smoot signing a one-year, $2.5MM deal during the summer, the veteran defensive end worked his way into the Bills’ starting lineup. The AFC East leaders have turned to the former Jaguars regular as a first-stringer in each of the past four games.

Buffalo’s edge-rushing depth will take a hit, however, with Sean McDermott indicating (via The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia) Smoot is headed to IR with a wrist injury. The veteran EDGE needs surgery, and while McDermott said the team hopes this is not a season-ending issue, no return timeline exists right now.

The Bills dropped A.J. Epenesa back to a place as a rotational rusher, doing so even after giving the former second-round pick a two-year, $12MM deal. This brought a Smoot move into the starting lineup. While Buscaglia indicates Epenesa’s run-game work leaves a bit to be desired, Pro Football Focus had graded the Iowa alum as better in that department compared to Smoot, who served as a starter during Von Miller‘s suspension.

Miller has not started for the Bills since his 2022 ACL tear, but the future Hall of Famer has more closely resembled his pre-injury version this season after a concerning 2023 showing. Back from a four-game ban, Miller carries three sacks into Week 10. Epenesa and Gregory Rousseau have four and 4.5, respectively. Smoot has 1.5 this season and has long been a rotational player, though he frequently supplied Jacksonville’s pass rush with support during Josh Hines-Allen‘s run.

Smoot, 29, totaled between five and six sacks in each season from 2019-22. A late-season Achilles tear in 2022 hurt his 2023 market, leading to a one-year, $3.5MM Jags deal just before last season. Smoot only notched one sack in 12 games as a backup, and the Bills brought him in as a depth piece in May. Only Smoot has managed a healthy workload as of late. He played between 47% and 68% of Buffalo’s defensive snaps from Weeks 4-8, notching three tackles for loss in that span.

With this injury occurring two days before the trade deadline, it will be interesting if the Bills — who have seen their defense hurt by key injuries in each of the past four seasons — add at least a depth player. Miller is now 35 and has two ACL tears on his medical sheet. The team is carrying six D-ends on its 53-man roster, however, with offseason pickup Casey Toohill and fifth-round rookie Javon Solomon residing behind the Miller-Epenesa duo on the depth chart. With one of those two set to start moving forward, the Bills will need to assess whether their current EDGE group is sufficient.

Bills Activate Von Miller After Four-Game Suspension

November 2nd, 2024 at 3:43pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Bills have activated outside linebacker Von Miller after he served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

The NFL did not specify why Miller was suspended, but the three-time All-Pro was arrested in December 2023 for a domestic violence charge that sparked a league investigation. Miller denied the allegations, and commissioner Roger Goodell declined to impose a suspension after initial review in March, but it is possible that additional details came to the league’s attention and forced them to act.

Miller’s suspension sidelined him for all four of the Bills’ games in October, but Buffalo still went 3-1 with that span, holding opponents to fewer than 16 points per game. Their pass rush took a small step back in Miller’s absence, recording eight sacks over their last four games after 12 in their first four.

Miller will return to a rotational role among the Bills’ edge rushers on Sunday against the Dolphins. 76.3% of his 93 defensive snaps this season were spent rushing the passer, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), consistent with Miller’s usage since arriving in Buffalo in 2022.

Miller agreed to a pay cut this offseason that reduced his 2024 salary from $17.5MM to $8.855MM, though he can earn up to $20MM with incentives. The move appears to be a shrewd one by the Bills as Miller’s suspension greatly reduced the chance that he can hit all of his incentives.

The Bills also used standard practice squad elevations on DT Eli Ankou and WR Jalen Virgil ahead of Sunday’s game

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/31/24

October 31st, 2024 at 9:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

Thursday’s practice squad moves:

Buffalo Bills

Los Angeles Rams

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Bills Still Optimistic About Matt Milano Return

October 30th, 2024 at 10:29pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bills are still counting on their veteran linebacker to make a late-season return. Coach Sean McDermott told reporters that the Bills still see a path where linebacker Matt Milano plays during the 2024 campaign (per Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic).

The coach added that Milano continues to move “in the right direction” as he recovers from a torn bicep. McDermott also noted that Milano continues to have an impact on the current squad, with the coach lauding the player’s leadership during the rehab process (per ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg).

“There is [hope that he’ll return],” McDermott said (h/t Kyle Silagyi of SI.com). “I don’t know a lot of the detail, I just kind of know a big-picture view of Matt. He’s moving in the right direction, I see him every day. He’s one of the leaders on our football team, and I’ve even felt that more this year even than I did last year.”

Even if Milano is able to take the field this year, it will still prove to be a second-straight lost season for the veteran. Milano suffered a fractured leg as well as a knee injury in Week 5 of the 2023 season, ending that campaign prematurely. The veteran was able to return in time for this year’s minicamp, but he then suffered a bicep injury during training camp that’s kept him on the shelf for the entire 2024 campaign.

Another significant injury was a tough blow to Milano ahead of his age-30 season. Despite the ongoing injury issues, the Bills still slapped the linebacker with an IR-Return Designation, a sign of optimism from the organization. While the Bills shouldn’t expect a whole lot from the veteran, he would provide a fresh body to the LB depth chart. Dorian Williams has been the only consistent for the Bills at the position in 2024, with Baylon Spector filling in whenever Terrel Bernard has been knocked out of the lineup.

The last time he played in a full season, Milano earned his only career All-Pro nod after finishing with 99 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three interceptions (including a pick-six). That performance helped earn the linebacker a two-year extension that would keep him in Buffalo through the 2026 campaign. Unfortunately, the Boston College product might not see the end of that pact. As Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News writes, Milano and his $16MM cap hit for the 2025 campaign will lead to plenty of speculation about his roster status heading into the offseason.

AFC East Notes: Reddick, Jets, Maye, Bills

October 30th, 2024 at 12:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Haason Reddick made his Jets debut last week, bringing an end to one of the longest holdouts in many years. Reddick pushed for a multiyear deal, believing the Jets reneged on their pledge to conduct true extension talks with him during the offseason. The Jets, however, had maintained they were not willing to discuss a long-term deal before their trade pickup began work in their defense. This led to a months-long standoff, being one of the contributing factors to the Jets’ 2-6 record. Reddick, who returned to the Jets after receiving an incentive-laden boost, played 26 defensive snaps as a backup in Week 8.

The Jets had made Reddick an offer to sweeten his 2024 compensation before the season started, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport noting the team’s proposal included $20MM for this year. The revised offer would have allowed the veteran edge rusher to recoup the fines he lost during training camp, though it is not known if this was a true raise from the $14.25MM salary he was due to make or another incentive package. Reddick, 30, turned that money down and continued to seek a trade. He has since regrouped with the Jets and will aim to secure solid terms as a 2025 free agent, but this holdout probably did not help him on that front.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

  • The Jets have until Tuesday to trade Mike Williams, and all signs are pointing to a separation. No move is expected to occur until after the Jets’ Thursday-night Texans matchup, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Gang Green has been linked to shopping Williams since even before the Davante Adams trade, and the effort began in earnest after the team acquired the ex-Aaron Rodgers Green Bay target. Williams, 30, has generated interest from the Steelers, Saints and Chargers and likely among other teams as well. The Jets falling to 2-7 would make them surefire sellers, but for now, they are waiting to see the market crystallize and holding onto the trade chip.
  • Before Jets interim HC Jeff Ulbrich stripped Nathaniel Hackett of play-calling duties, Robert Saleh had informed the second-generation Jets OC he would be demoted. Prior to the since-fired HC’s directive, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes Hackett and Todd Downing had split game-planning responsibilities. They are continuing to do so, though it is now Downing who has final say on what goes in the game plan and what does not. The Jets are 0-3 with Downing calling plays, however, and remain in the same place they were (25th) in terms of scoring offense at the time Hackett was demoted.
  • As could be expected, the Jets are almost certain to pass on Ulbrich as the full-time HC if the team misses the playoffs, The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt offers. Considering Ulbrich is 0-3 in the interim role, it would take a dramatic turnaround to convince the organization to not go with an outside hire — as every team but the Raiders has since 2017 — rather than remove their current leader’s interim tag.
  • David Edwards has bounced back from a concussion-marred 2022 and a 2023 season spent as a Bills backup. Stepping in as Buffalo’s starting left guard this season, as the team moved Connor McGovern to center after cutting Mitch Morse, Edwards has played well. The former Super Bowl LVI starter has outperformed McGovern at the LG spot, per The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia, who adds Edwards could be moving toward an extension if he keeps this up. Pro Football Focus ranks Edwards just 44th among guards, but the 27-year-old blocker has started every game — after being a 17-game backup in 2023 — and has provided value on a two-year, $6MM deal.
  • Drake Maye is indeed in concussion protocol. Jerod Mayo confirmed that status Wednesday, making the No. 3 overall pick iffy for the Patriots‘ Sunday matchup against the Titans. A hit to the back of Maye’s head during a first-quarter scramble led Jacoby Brissett back into action in Week 8.
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