The Buffalo Bills were expected to add a wide receiver to their offense before Tuesday’s trade deadline, but instead the team made a subtraction in the hours after the deadline passed.
The Bills didn’t make any trades before the 4 p.m. deadline, making some calls on wide receivers but failing to come to any deals. The team then made room for a potential addition to their defense by parting ways with a veteran wide receiver who was stashed on the practice squad for some trusted depth.
Bills Say Goodbye to Former Raiders Receiver
The Bills announced shortly after the trade deadline that they released wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson from their practice squad. Wilkerson joined the team in the offseason but failed to make the final roster, returning to join the practice squad.
The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia noted this summer that Wilkerson had limited action through his first five seasons in the NFL, playing mostly on special teams with limited action on offense.
âThe 28-year-old receiver spent last season with the Las Vegas Raiders where he appeared in three games and totaled three catches for 18 yards and a touchdown,â the team noted. âWilkerson first entered the NFL in 2020 with the Titans as an undrafted free agent. He played collegiately at Southeast Missouri State (2015-19). He will wear No. 82 for the Bills.â
Wilkerson had a productive season in 2021, making four receptions for 42 yards with two touchdowns.
The 28-year-old had an uphill battle in making the roster this summer as the Bills had a deep wide receiving corps, plus the unexpected emergence of former practice squad member Tyrell Shavers as a candidate who ultimately made the final roster.
Wilkerson’s release came after the Bills reportedly made calls on available wide receivers, including Jakobi Meyers. The Bills had been connected to other pass-catchers including Miami Dolphins star Jaylen Waddle, but the Dolphins reportedly asked for at least a first-round pick — a price too high for the Bills.
Bills Make Another Move
The Bills also released linebacker Jimmy Ciarlo from their practice squad, clearing a second spot that can be used to boost another area of need. The team brought in three veteran defensive linemen for workouts on Tuesday, including former Bills players Casey Toohill and Kinglsey Jonathan.
The Bills were also expected to seek help for their defensive line at the trade deadline, but couldn’t find any deals. The team lost starting defensive tackle Ed Oliver and edge rusher Michael Hoecht to season-ending injuries in successive weeks, creating a big area of need for a unit that had performed well in a win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Though Oliver is on injured reserve after suffering a torn bicep and is expected to miss the rest of the regular season, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that he has a chance to return for the postseason.
“My understanding is though he’s going to miss the rest of the regular season, there’s a real chance that Oliver is back for the first round or maybe even second round of the playoffs for the Bills,” Rapoport said, via SI.com.
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