The Buffalo Bills have made a flurry of roster moves after the NFL trade deadline, including a quick return for a veteran wide receiver almost immediately after he was released.
The Bills announced on Tuesday that receiver Kristian Wilkerson had been released from their practice squad, but it was a short-lived absence. The team brought him back within a day, one of several former players to find spots on the practice squad.
Bills Find Spot for Veteran Receiver
Though the Bills had not yet officially announced Wilkerson’s return, The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia reported on Wednesday that he was already back with the team and on the field.
“The Bills re-signed WR Kristian Wilkerson to their practice squad Wednesday,” Buscaglia wrote. “He was on the practice field today. The team had released him from the practice squad on Tuesday, according to the leagueâs transaction log.”
Wilkerson was with the team during the summer but stuck near the bottom of the depth chart at wide receiver. The Bills added some veterans who have gone to play key roles — including Elijah Moore and Joshua Palmer — while former practice squad receiver Tyrell Shavers earned a spot on the active roster due to his play on offense and special teams.
That left an uphill battle for Wilkerson to find a spot on the active roster, though he did return to the practice squad after being released at final roster cuts in August.
Wilkerson has been in the NFL since 2020 but has a light resume on offense, making just six career receptions for 60 yards with three touchdowns.
Bills Bring Back More Familiar Faces
The Bills also re-signed some former players on Wednesday, adding defensive end Kingsley Jonathan and cornerback Te’Cory Couch to the practice squad. Both are expected to add depth after injuries, with Jonathan potentially getting a call-up for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins after injuries to defensive tackle Ed Oliver and edge rusher Michael Hoecht.
Many expected the Bills to make some additions before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, especially with needs at defensive line and in the wide receiving room. The team ended up making no additions, which general manager Brandon Beane explained was the result of a difficult trade market.
Beane said he tried to make some improvements to the roster, but was unable to find any teams willing to make a deal with a Super Bowl contender.
âBelieve me, I went home as mad as any other fan,â Beane said, via Syracuse.com. âI wanted to do things. Iâm always wanting to do things to make this team better.â
Beane added that the Bills were more than willing to make a deal, with reports that they inquired about wide receivers including Jakobi Meyers. Beane said that two teams willing to sell off players — the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins — also weren’t keen on making a deal with a division rival.
âItâs not a store where you can just go in and say, hey, Iâll pay $20 and take this player,â Beane said. âIt takes two to be able to do it.â
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