Bills Cut CB Marcus Roberson
The Bills announced that they are releasing Marcus Roberson from the active roster, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW tweets. In other moves, kicker Marshall Morgan released from the practice squad while adding long snapper Reid Ferguson. 
Roberson was just promoted from the Bills’ p-squad over the weekend in advance of Sunday’s game against the Patriots. The 24-year-old did not record an official statistic in the 41-25 defeat. If he clears waivers, it’s possible that he could circle back to Buffalo’s taxi squad. With Roberson gone, the Bills will continue ahead with corners Stephon Gilmore, Ronald Darby, Nickell Robey, Kevon Seymour, and Corey White.
In other Bills news, the team placed safety Aaron Williams on injured reserve this week. The team also welcomed back wide receiver Percy Harvin.
Percy Harvin Returned NFL On A Whim
- Percy Harvin is back in the NFL, but it doesn’t sound like he was ruminating on the decision for long. The Bills called Harvin on a whim to see if he might want to play again and, after brief consideration, he decided to jump back in, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT. Harvin could make his 2016 debut against his former team on Monday night when Buffalo heads to Seattle.
Bills Place Aaron Williams On IR
The Bills announced that they have placed safety Aaron Williams on injured reserve. The move will make room for the addition of Percy Harvin, who came out of retirement to sign with Buffalo earlier today. 
[RELATED: Percy Harvin Comes Out Of Retirement, Signs With Bills]
Williams was on the receiving end of a vicious tackle Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry recently, leaving him with a neck injury. According to Williams’ father, the defensive back may consider retirement in the offseason since this is his second neck injury in the last two seasons.
Williams, 26, has been a starter for the majority of his career in Buffalo, posting seven interceptions and 183 tackles through 59 games. Having agreed to an extension in 2014, Williams is signed through the 2018 campaign, with cap hits north of $6MM in each of the next two seasons. Buffalo can use options like Robert Blanton, Duke Williams, and Jonathan Meeks to fill in at safety, so they won’t necessarily have to add a defensive back this week.
Percy Harvin Unretires, Signs With Bills
How’s this for a surprise? Wide receiver Percy Harvin is coming out of retirement to re-sign with the Bills, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Agent Greg Barnett has also confirmed the news via social media. Harvin’s deal is worth about $1MM over the season’s remaining eight games, including incentives, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). That comes out to about $1.5MM prorated in a 16-game season. 
Harvin joined the Bills on a one-year, $6MM deal in March of 2015, but was unable to stay healthy. Battling through a persistent hip injury, the 28-year-old appeared in just five games, recording 19 catches for 218 yards and a touchdown. Harvin, who has also been plagued by knee issues in the past, returned five kicks as well. This past offseason, he wrestled with the idea of retirement and flip-flopped a couple of times in the spring. In April, he told the Bills that he was done playing football, but he apparently had a change of heart in recent weeks.
If Harvin can stay healthy, he could provide a major boost for a Bills offense that is currently without star Sammy Watkins. It’s also worth noting that Harvin has not been 0n the field in quite some time and it’s not immediately clear if he is in football shape. If Harvin is ready to go immediately, then he’ll get to make his 2016 debut against the Seahawks on Monday night.
Bills Unlikely To Make Trade
- Speaking of the deadline, two head coaches broached the subject today while speaking with reporters. The Falcons‘ Dan Quinn told D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that while there are some “behind-the-scenes whispers about stuff” happening over the next day or so, Atlanta is unlikely to make a move. Bills head coach Rex Ryan, meanwhile, said he “doesn’t necessarily see” Buffalo working out a trade before tomorrow, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/31/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Ed Eagan, TE Manasseh Garner
New York Giants
- Signed: RB George Winn
Bills Promote Marcus Roberson
The Bills only filled one of their two open roster spots yesterday, and it looks like they’ll be using that final opening to add a defensive back. According to Joe Buscaglia of WKBW in Buffalo (via Twitter), the Bills have promoted cornerback Marcus Roberson from the practice squad.
The former undrafted free agent out of Florida won’t be making his NFL debut, as the 24-year-old appeared in 25 games with the Rams between 2014 and 2015. In that time, Roberson compiled 34 tackles, seven passes defended, and one interception. Despite appearing in 16 games (with four starts) for the Rams last season, the team released the cornerback in early September. Roberson will join a deep cornerback corps that features Stephon Gilmore, Ronald Darby, Nickell Robey, Kevon Seymour, and Corey White.
Considering the injuries to the Bills’ wideouts, some believed the team would use their final roster spot on a receiver. However, Buscaglia believes top wideout Robert Woods must be healthy enough for this weekend, limiting the urgency to promote or acquire another receiver.
The Bills waived tight end Manasseh Garner and wide receiver Ed Eagan yesterday, and they also promoted tight end Gerald Christian from the practice squad.
Bills Promote One, Waive Two
The Bills have promoted tight end Gerald Christian from their practice squad, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. In corresponding moves, Buffalo has waived fellow tight end Manasseh Garner and wide receiver Ed Eagan.
[RELATED: LeSean McCoy Unlikely To Play Sunday]
This is the second promotion of the year for Christian, who has shuffled in and out of the Bills organization since originally joining the practice squad Sept. 7. Christian previously suited up for the Bills’ Week 5 win over the Rams, but he only played five snaps and didn’t record any statistics. The second-year man and former Cardinal will provide depth this week behind Charles Clay and Nick O’Leary as the 4-3 Bills host the AFC East rival Patriots (6-1).
Garner, formerly with the Broncos, signed with the Bills’ practice squad on Oct. 5 and earned a promotion for the club’s game in Miami last week. The 24-year-old didn’t see any action, however, as the Bills fell 28-25.
Eagan was set to suit up for the Bills this Sunday after receiving a promotion (and a comparison to Wes Welker from head coach Rex Ryan), but it turns out that won’t be the case for the undrafted rookie from Northwestern State. Although the Bills are perilously thin at receiver, where they’ve gone without Sammy Watkins for most of the season and are also dealing with injuries to Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin, that wasn’t enough to keep the 5-foot-10, 193-pound Eagan in the fold.
Doug Whaley On Trade Market
The Chiefs announced that they have ruled out running back Jamaal Charles for Sunday’s game against Indianapolis. The team says it’s being careful with the four-time Pro bowler given that he suffered a torn ACL last year. In place of Charles, who has only 12 carries in three appearances this season, the Chiefs will continue leaning on Spencer Ware. The third-year man has held his own with nearly 800 total yards (492 rushing, 285 receiving) and three touchdowns in the Chiefs’ first six games.
More regarding Kansas City and three other AFC teams:
- Bills general manager Doug Whaley tells WGR 550 the trade market has been “relatively quiet,” but he thinks it will pick up after Sunday (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak). He added that the Bills would not hesitate to make a trade before Tuesday’s deadline.
- Texans head coach Bill O’Brien classifies running back Lamar Miller as a game-time decision for Sunday’s contest against the Lions, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). Miller suffered a bruised shoulder in the Texans’ loss to the Broncos on Monday, but he plans to play through it, writes Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com. Miller and backup Alfred Blue picked up 11 carries apiece in Denver.
- In addition to the previously reported Cayleb Jones, Jeremiah McKinnon, Blake Muir and James Vaughters, the Chiefs worked out defensive end Bobby Richardson on Tuesday, per Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link). Richardson started in 11 of 15 appearances as a rookie with the Saints last year, though he didn’t make much of an impact statistically (20 tackles, half a sack).
- Safety Justin Currie is in Cleveland today for a tryout with the Browns, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com tweets. Currie went undrafted from Western Michigan last year and spent time wth the Giants.
Bills’ LeSean McCoy Unlikely To Play Sunday
Last week, LeSean McCoy tweaked his hamstring in practice. The initial word was that the Bills would play it safe with their star running back and rest him on Sunday. Instead, the Bills allowed Shady to play against the Dolphins where he re-aggravated his injury. This week, Buffalo has listed McCoy as doubtful for their upcoming game. The tailback did not practice today and coach Rex Ryan all but confirmed that he won’t be able to go against the Patriots. 
“Obviously he never practiced this week, so you guys can figure that one out,” Ryan told reporters.
Of course, given the tricky nature of hamstring injuries, it’s fair to wonder if McCoy could also be hampered in the longer term. Last year, McCoy missed time with hamstring issues and was out of action for one-quarter of the regular season.
If the Bills don’t throw everyone a curveball again this week, backup Mike Gillislee is expected to get the start. In his limited work this season, the soon-to-be 26-year-old has been impressive, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. With only 75 carries in parts of three seasons, the Bills are eager to see what he can do as the lead back for an entire game.
The Bills don’t necessarily have to add a running back as they already have Gillislee, Reggie Bush, and Jonathan Williams on the 53-man roster. They don’t have any running backs on their 10-man practice squad.