The Buffalo Bills brought a familiar face back to training camp to help add depth at their defensive line.
The team announced on July 31 that they signed defensive tackle Kameron Cline, who has now spent time in three training camps and had a short stint on the active roster last season. Cline will get the chance to compete for a spot in a position that will have some early-season needs.
Bills Bring Trusted Defensive Tackle Back
Cline has appeared in six games since coming into the NFL in 2020, most of that with the Indianalis Colts. He appeared mostly on special teams for the Colts, with just three career tackles.
The Bills claimed Cline off waivers in 2023, putting him on their practice squad. He also returned in 2024, returning to the practice squad but being elevated to the active roster for one game.
Though Cline will face a challenge in trying to make the active roster, he could have an advantage as the team will be shorthanded at the defensive line to start the season. Two of their biggest offseason acquisitions — Larry Ogunjobi and Michael Hoecht — are facing six-game suspensions from the NFL for violating the league’s rules against performance-enhancing drugs.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane said both players will have a role when they return in Week 7, noting that neither of them had any off-the-field issues prior to their suspensions.
“It’s not ideal to have two guys with that, but both guys have never had any issues off the field. It’s a tough lesson of where do you get your supplements or whatever happened,” he said. “We’ll embrace those guys and if they were guys that this had happened before, we probably would have avoided them.”
But the suspensions mean that the Bills will have two open roster spots to start the season, which could help a player like Cline find a depth role either at the bottom of the roster or on the practice squad.
Bills Made Big Additions to Defensive Line
The Bills have already made some big investments in their defensive line, using three of their first four draft picks on tackles and edge rushers. The team also added veteran Joey Bosa, who is hoping to move beyond his injury issues and help boost a pass rush that was spotty at times over the last few seasons.
Some insiders believe the Bills could make more additions to the defensive line, naming the team as a top landing spot for veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith. Gilberto Manzano of SI.com noted that Smith could serve as an insurance policy of sorts for the oft-injured Bosa.
âSmithâs best days are behind him, but he proved last season with the Detroit Lions that heâs still capable of being a reliable rotational player for a Super Bowl contender,” Manzano wrote. “The Bills have already added Joey Bosa, but he has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons and recently injured his calf. Even if Bosa stays healthy when the season arrives, Buffalo still needs depth behind No. 1 edge rusher Gregory Rousseau. Smith, whoâs entering his age-33 season, has 69 career sacks in 10 NFL seasons.â
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