Latest On Marcell Dareus
Marcell Dareus will return to his place on the Bills’ defensive line this weekend after missing four games due to a drug suspension. But Wednesday brought some updates in the defensive tackle’s timeline.
The sixth-year lineman said in August his four-game ban stemmed from missing a drug test, but Tim Graham of the Buffalo News reports (on Twitter) that wasn’t the case. Multiple drug-program violations occurred, per Graham, to cause the league to suspend the interior-line stalwart.
This was Dareus’ second drug-related suspension in two years. The reported multiple violations happened in between his first and second bans, causing the lengthier absence, per Graham (Twitter link).
Additionally, Dareus did not end up checking into rehab despite what he said in August. Instead, the 26-year-old nose tackle received treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to Jarrett Bell of USA Today.
Dareus worked with an ADHD expert and a life coach, per Bell, who adds the top current Bills defensive lineman sought the counsel of the greatest defender in Bills history. Dareus stayed with Bruce Smith at his Virginia home for four days, Bell reports. Dareus was first diagnosed with ADHD while at Alabama.
“I’m a better person, a better teammate, a better player,” Dareus told Bell. “I just want to show them. Talk is cheap. I’m at the point where I have to do it.”
Dareus will return to a Bills team that’s now 2-2 despite all of the turmoil it’s encountered this season via injuries, suspensions and the firing of OC Greg Roman.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bills Release Jim Dray
- The Bills have released tight end Jim Dray and promoted fellow tight end Gerald Christian from the practice squad, the club announced today. Dray, 29, is a seven-year veteran who inked a one-year deal with Buffalo over the offseason. Though he’s posted 56 career receptions, Dray didn’t garner a single target with the Bills.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/4/16
Here are today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: P Michael Palardy (Twitter link via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com)
- Cut: LB Davis Tull
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Corey Washington
- Cut: WR Matt Hazel
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB Raheem Mostert (Twitter link via Brett Tessler)
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Mike Liedtke (Twitter link via Tessler)
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Lee Hightower (Twitter link via Mike Chappell of FOX59)
New York Giants
- Signed: QB Logan Thomas
- Cut: LB Deontae Skinner
New York Jets
- Signed: S Ronald Martin
- Cut: FB Julian Howsare
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DE James Cowser
- Cut: DL Demetrius Cherry, LB Darnell Sankey (Twitter link via Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com)
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: T Brett Boyko, LB Deon King, WR Kevin Norwood
- Cut: TE Austin Traylor
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DE Sterling Bailey
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Russell Hansbrough (Twitter link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times)
- Cut: WR Jonathan Krause (Twitter link via Auman)
Bills’ Shaq Lawson Will Be Ready In Week 7
Bills rookie pass rusher Shaq Lawson will be able to play as soon as his stay on the PUP list ends following Week 6, head coach Rex Ryan told reporters, including Joe Buscaglia of WKBW. Per Ryan, Lawson will be “ready to roll.”
[RELATED: Sammy Watkins Likely To Have Second Surgery]
However, Lawson isn’t expected to jump right into a full-time role, according to Buscaglia, who writes that Lawson will likely play as a situational player as he gets acclimated to the NFL. Initially, it was expected that Lawson would miss 4-5 games, but he’ll need some additional time to recover from shoulder surgery. Buffalo took Lawson with the No. 19 overall pick in this year’s draft while many other teams were said to have moved him down their boards due to his ailment.
In his evaluation of the Bills’ rookie class for PFR, scouting consultant Dave-Te Thomas spoke highly of Lawson:
When healthy, Lawson has been a terror – whether in a relief role or during his lone year as a starter. Through his first two seasons, he recorded 79 tackles (47 solos), an impressive figure for relief duties. However, he delivered 23 of those tackles for losses and brought down eleven other opponents for no gains on running plays. He also registered twenty-one third-down stops from 2013- 14 and recorded five touchdown-saving tackles.
Buffalo will get another defender — defensive tackle Marcell Dareus — back even sooner than Lawson, as the Dareus will return in Week 5 after serving a four-game suspension.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
14 Players Returning From Suspension
Fourteen players will return from four-game suspensions this week, according to Howard Balzer (Twitter links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). The most high-profile returnee, of course, is quarterback Tom Brady, who will re-join the 3-1 Patriots on Sunday against the Browns.
The following players have completed their suspensions:
- QB Tom Brady, Patriots
- DL Armonty Bryant, free agent (waived by the Browns today)
- CB Jalen Collins, Falcons
- LB Aaron Colvin, Jaugars
- DT Marcell Dareus, Bills
- T Seantrel Henderson, Bills
- DE Arthur Jones, Colts
- DE Demarcus Lawrence, Cowboys
- LB Aaron Lynch, 49ers
- DE Rob Ninkovich, Patriots
- G Chris Scott, Panthers
- DL Damion Square, Chargers
- T Zach Sterup, free agent
- TE Darren Waller, Ravens
The club that employs each player will receive a short roster exemption that ends the day following the team’s Week 5 game. that means the 49ers’ exemption for Lynch ends Friday, the Panthers’ exemption for Scott ends next Tuesday, and the rest end next Monday.
Sterup, meanwhile, was on the Chiefs’ practice squad when he was banned, but he hasn’t completed the PED reinstatement requirements, according to Balzer. So although he can sign with a new club, Sterup can’t practice or play until he’s approved by the league.
Sammy Watkins Likely To Have Second Surgery
Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins is expected to require a second surgery on his injured foot, and having that operation would end his season, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported Thursday, Watkins will travel to North Carolina this week and meet with specialist Dr. Robert Anderson before making a final decision.
[RELATED: Bills Discussed Advisory Role With Tom Coughlin]
Buffalo officially placed Watkins on injured reserve earlier this week, and although the league’s new IR rules would allow him to return after eight weeks, that avenue is looking increasingly unlikely. If, by chance, Watkins opts against surgery, he’ll need rest and recovery to have any shot to come back later in the season. At that point, the Bills’ record would likely play a large role in deciding whether to activate Watkins.
Watkins, 23, has been dealing with his foot issue since May, when he had a screw inserted following what was termed a “minor” fracture. The ailment has kept him extremely limited this season, and he’s recorded only six catches for 63 yards in two games. To attempt to make up for Watkins’ absence, Buffalo claimed fellow pass-catcher Justin Hunter off waivers from the Dolphins.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Tom Coughlin Met With Bills During Offseason
There’s now more clarity on that mysterious meeting between the Bills and former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin. According to ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen, the two sides did actually meet… although the meeting took place during the “early part of the offseason.” Furthermore, it’s unlikely that Coughlin was interviewing for a head coaching gig, as Bills head coach Rex Ryan was reportedly at the meeting. Previous reports, which has been denied by the NFL and Coughlin’s agent, were uncertain of the purpose of the gathering.
Mortensen writes that Ryan, Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula, and team president Russ Brandon all met with Coughlin in South Florida “around March or early April.” The hour-long discussion was focused on Coughlin’s willingness to join the organization as an active consultant. A later phone conversation between Ryan and Coughlin convinced the Super Bowl winning coach to pursue other opportunities.
“I can confirm that the meeting you’re talking about did take place, but it was several months ago and there have been no calls from any team about Tom’s availability to coach,” agent Sandy Montag told Mortensen. “He is fully engaged in his job with the NFL.”
The timing of the initial report was notable, as the Bills had recently fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Furthermore, there have been lingering questions regarding the job security of both Ryan and general manager Doug Whaley.
Coughlin stepped down as the Giants head coach in early January following 12 seasons (and a pair of Super Bowl championships) with the team. The 70-year-old has indicated that he wants to coach again, and he took meetings with both the Eagles and 49ers this past offseason. Coughlin ultimately accepted a job working alongside Troy Vincent in the NFL’s football operations department.
Bills Place Sammy Watkins On IR
This has been a rough season for the Bills so far. Today, Buffalo announced that star wide receiver Sammy Watkins has been placed on IR. 
[RELATED: Bills Claim Justin Hunter Off Waivers]
There is no surgery scheduled for Watkins, though he will visit Dr. Robert Anderson to be sure, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The plan for Watkins will consist of rest and rehab.
Watkins could potentially return after two months thanks to the league’s new IR rules, but it’s not immediately clear if that’s a possibility for the wide receiver. Of course, if the Bills’ season keeps going in the same direction, it’s unlikely that Watkins would be activated even if he’s healthy later on in the season. Buffalo is currently 1-2 heading into a tough matchup against the Patriots on Sunday. Meanwhile, they’re missing several starters on the other side of the ball.
The Bills went all-in on Watkins in the 2014 draft, trading the No. 9 overall pick, their first-round choice in 2015, and a 2015 fourth-rounder to acquire him. From a talent perspective, Watkins proved to be as good as the hype. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Watkins bravely played through the pain in 2015 but his foot only got worse with time.
With Watkins sidelined for at least eight weeks (and possibly the full season), one has to wonder if coach Rex Ryan will be able to keep his job for 2017. It’s only Year 2 for Rex in Buffalo, but there have been rumblings about his job security for months. Ryan will have to get some Ws out of his team without some of their most important players this year, including the dynamic Watkins.
In two games this year, Watkins recorded six catches for 63 yards.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bills Claim Justin Hunter Off Waivers
The Bills claimed wide receiver Justin Hunter off waivers from the Dolphins, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The team has since confirmed the move while announcing that fellow wide receiver Sammy Watkins has been placed on IR. 
[RELATED: Bills Place Sammy Watkins On IR]
Hunter came into the league with a ton of hype behind him as a second-round pick in the 2013 draft. Unfortunately, Hunter was never able to put it all together at the NFL level. This year, the new regime in Tennessee bounced Hunter (and other notable players from GM Ruston Webster‘s watch), leading him to be picked up by the Dolphins. However, on Wednesday, Miami opted to waive the wide receiver.
Hunter has an uninspiring 68 receptions and eight touchdowns in 35 career games (13 starts). While Hunter has averaged an impressive 16.8 yards per catch, that number dropped to a career-worst 12.0 on 22 grabs last season. The 2015 campaign was a short one for Hunter, who only appeared in nine games as a result of a mid-November fractured ankle.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Latest On Sammy Watkins
The Bills have ruled Sammy Watkins out for Sunday’s game, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Structurally his foot is fine, but it comes down to a pain management issue and doctors believe that rest should help. Meanwhile, it’s not exactly clear when Watkins will take the field again. coach Rex Ryan says there is “major concern” over Watkins’ availability moving forward this season (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com). 
Watkins is no stranger to injuries, but he has toughed it out for the most part. Last year, Watkins missed only three games due to injury despite being banged up for the entire year. In 2014, Watkins was on the field for every regular season game. Now, the pain is too much to play through and the Bills aren’t quite sure when their best offensive weapon will be able to suit up. What the Bills do know is that Watkins won’t be on the field Sunday afternoon against the rival Patriots.
This year, Watkins has six receptions for 63 yards in two games played. In his 13-game season, Watkins hauled in 60 passes for 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns in his shortened season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.