Bills Place Eric Wood On IR
The Bills announced that they have placed Eric Wood on injured reserve. To fill his spot, cornerback Marcus Roberson has been promoted off of the practice squad. In a related move, center Dalton Freeman has been signed to the p-squad. 
Wood expressed hope last week that he could return if the Bills make the playoffs, but he’s either not healthy enough to do that or the 4-5 Bills felt that they needed the help at cornerback instead. Wood suffered a broken leg earlier this month and after the injury Rex Ryan lamented the loss of “the best center in the league.” While many would disagree with Ryan’s sentiment, it’s clear that he will be missed on the O-Line. Ryan Groy will likely continue in the starting center role.
Roberson was just promoted from the Bills’ p-squad in late October but lasted only one game before reverting back to the 10-man crew. Roberson will now resume his spot on the roster behind corners Stephon Gilmore, Ronald Darby, Nickell Robey, Kevon Seymour, and Corey White.
Bills Notes: Watkins, Wood, Henderson
Here’s a quick look at the Bills:
- Bills coach Rex Ryan says he spoke to Sammy Watkins today and Watkins says he felt “fantastic.” However, trainers are not yet clearing Watkins to practice (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com). The Bills placed Watkins on IR in September but got some good news when they learned that he could avoid surgery, leaving the door open for a late-season return. The wide receiver could potentially return as soon for Week 12, but doctors will first have to give him the go-ahead.
- Meanwhile, Ryan has yet to discuss whether Eric Wood will be placed on injured reserve with GM Doug Whaley (Twitter link). Wood expressed hope last week that he could return if the Bills make the playoffs. However, the Bills may prefer to have his 53-man roster spot, particularly at a time when the playoffs are no sure thing for Buffalo. After a four-game winning streak, the Bills have now dropped three in a row, putting them at 4-5.
- Seantrel Henderson, who has been on shaky ground with the Bills organization, could once again find his way to the starting lineup. Ryan told reporters, including Joe Buscaglia of WKBW (on Twitter) that Henderson will be given an opportunity this week after his strong showing on Sunday. Buscaglia (Twitter link) inferred that Jordan Mills‘ starting job could now be in jeopardy with the likely elevation of Henderson. started all 16 games in his rookie season in Buffalo, and had started ten games for the team in 2015 before he was sidelined with Crohn’s. This offseason, Henderson was MIA for a while before returning to the team in the summer. Shortly after coming back, he was hit with a four-game suspension for marijuana use. The former seventh-round pick carries a ~$471K cap number this year and ~$703K in 2017. If Henderson can avoid off-the-field trouble, he could prove to be a remarkable value for Buffalo through next season.
Bills C Eric Wood Done For Season
Bad news for the Bills as center Eric Wood is done for the season. After last night’s game, coach Rex Ryan announced that Wood suffered a broken leg in the 31-25 loss to Seattle.
Ryan was dejected as he told reporters the news, calling Wood “the best center in the league.” That statement may be sprinkled with a little bit of bias, but there’s no questioning that Wood is an integral part of the Bills’ offensive line. The advanced stats at Pro Football Focus have Wood rated as just the No. 29 ranked center in the NFL out of 34 qualified players with a slightly higher score for run blocking than pass blocking.
When Wood exited the game in the fourth quarter, tackle/center Ryan Groy was used in the middle. He figures to be the team’s starting center going forward and they may add another offensive lineman to the roster this week.
Earlier this year, Wood restructured his deal to help create about $2.5MM in 2016 cap room for Buffalo.
Percy Harvin Was Not Considering Return Before Being Contacted By Bills
- Percy Harvin was not contemplating a return to the league when he was contacted by the Bills, La Canfora reports. Instead, the Florida product was happily retired and was investigating potential business deals. Buffalo senior vice president of football administration Bill Overdorf first raised the potential addition of Harvin several weeks ago, and other Bills executives got on board when the team suffered a second consecutive loss. Harvin is expected to see at least limited action Monday night in Seattle.
Harvin's Comeback Salary Surfaces
- The Bills remain confident LeSean McCoy and Percy Harvin will play against the Seahawks on Monday night. However, Marcell Dareus will miss the game due to the groin injury he suffered against the Patriots, the team announced. Dareus has played in just one game for the Bills this season.
- Harvin’s unretirement will net him $825K for the rest of the season, Tom Pelissero reports (on Twitter). The 28-year-old slot target will also earn $22.5K in game-day roster bonuses. Harvin made $6MM for the Bills last season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/4/16
Friday’s practice squad changes:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Marcus Roberson
- Cut: WR Mose Frazier
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S Pierre Desir
- Cut: QB Joel Stave, RB George Farmer, FB Julian Howsare
Bills Waive Greg Salas From IR
The Bills have waived wide receiver Greg Salas with an injury settlement, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN. This won’t necessarily end Salas’ tenure in Buffalo, though, as Mike Rodak of ESPN notes the team could re-sign him when it’s eligible to in three weeks (Twitter links).
Salas recorded four catches, 89 yards and his first career receiving touchdown in a 37-31 loss to the Jets in Week 2, but that might go down as his final game of 2016. The 28-year-old suffered a groin injury in practice prior to Week 3 and ended up landing on IR on Oct. 7. Salas joined the Bills last year and was previously a member of the Rams and Jets, with whom he combined for 43 receptions and 574 yards from 2011-14.
Given that Salas has barely played this year, his exit from the organization won’t affect the offense going forward. Injuries at wideout – including to No. 1 option Sammy Watkins – have beset the Bills all season, which is why the club brought Percy Harvin out of retirement Tuesday.
Injury Update On LeSean McCoy
Bills running back LeSean McCoy returned to practice on Thursday and that could be a sign that Shady will be activated for Monday night against Seattle. McCoy was sidelined for last week’s loss to the Patriots, leaving backup Mike Gillislee in the top role.
- Tyrod Taylor‘s unconventional five-year extension gave the Bills an escape hatch if he flopped and a team-friendly deal in the event that he became an elite quarterback. So far, neither one of those scenarios have played out and that stands to benefit Taylor, ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak writes. Without a better option, the Bills pretty much have to trigger Taylor’s $27.5MM option – barring a dramatic second half slide. And, because he hasn’t been exceptional this year, Taylor isn’t missing out on a larger payday on the open market. As Rodak notes, Taylor has been the NFL’s best running QB, totaling a league-high 319 rushing yards and 17 rushing first downs plus three rushing touchdowns. At the same time, he has completed only 58.7% of his passes.
Bills Work Out Jeron Johnson, James Ihedigbo
The Bills auditioned a group of safeties on this week, including Jeron Johnson, James Ihedigbo, and Danny McCray, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. The Bills already signed Sergio Brown out of that workout, so it doesn’t sound like Johnson et al will be signing with Buffalo at this time. 
After serving as a reserve defensive back and a special-teamer for several years with the Seahawks, Johnson signed with the Redskins last year with the hope of getting more playing time. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the kind of burn he was hoping for. This yea, Johnson had a quiet offseason before hooking on with the Chiefs in August. They dropped him in September, leaving him to roam the workout circuit. Since then, Johnson has shown his stuff for the Giants, Ravens, and Bills but has not found a home.
After starting 21 games for the Lions over the past two seasons, safety Ihedigbo has been unable to find work this season and he hasn’t had much in the way of auditions either. His late October tryout for the Dolphins was his first known workout of the season and the Bills visit marks his second. Last year, the 32-year-old was ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 64 safety out of 69 qualifiers. However, 2014 was arguably his best season ever.
Bills Sign Sergio Brown
Traversing the workout circuit since being cut by the Falcons before the season, Sergio Brown reached an agreement to sign with the Bills, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reports.
Brown has not played in 2016 but worked out for the Dolphins last week. The veteran safety started four games for the Jaguars last season but was cut after one year of a three-year contract.
The Bills placed Aaron Williams on their IR list this week due to a neck injury but still have four other safeties on their active roster. Williams started five games and played in seven for Buffalo in 2016 and has been a starter in the Bills’ secondary since 2011.
Brown, though, could provide a veteran presence as a stopgap. He played in at least 14 games from 2011-15, starting in 12 combined during the ’14 and ’15 campaigns with the Colts and Jaguars, respectively.
The 28-year-old back-line defender will join a safety corps headed by Corey Graham and Robert Blanton, the former rating as a top-20 Pro Football Focus safety and the latter the site’s No. 68 of 69 full-time performers. The Bills have now have five safeties with at least four years of NFL experience, with Duke Williams and Jonathan Meeks being 2013 draftees.