The Bills waived a couple of players most thought would stick on the 53-man roster Saturday parting ways with RB Jonathan Williams, WR Philly Brown and LB Gerald Hodges to make room for their three waiver claim players.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
Buffalo continued to tinker with its roster Sunday as they were awarded claims for three players, LB Deon Lacey, TE Khari Lee, and OT Conor McDermott. To make room on the roster the Bills made a couple of surprise moves waiving RB Jonathan Williams, WR Philly Brown, and terminating veteran LB Gerald Hodges.
Moving on from Williams was the most unexpected move. The second-year back appeared to have the backup job to LeSean McCoy solidified after he averaged 5.8 yards per carry in the preseason rushing for 121 yards on 21 carries.
Philly Brown was a free agent signee in the spring, and one familiar to head coach Sean McDermott after they had both spent time together in Carolina with the Panthers organization. Meanwhile Hodges, despite being a late signee in the spring, looked to have the inside track on the backup middle linebacker role locked up behind Preston Brown. But all three players were moved off the roster Sunday.
Buffalo also reached an injury settlement with LB Sam Barrington releasing him from injured reserve.
Here’s a thumbnail sketch on each of the newest players added to the Bills roster.
LB Deon Lacey (6-3, 235)
Undrafted out of West Alabama in 2013, Lacey signed with the Dallas Cowboys, but did not make the roster. He went to play in the CFL where he starred for the Edmonton Eskimos. Over his three CFL seasons Lacey racked up 114 tackles, seven sacks, three interceptions and four forced fumbles, drawing the attention of a half dozen teams as a CFL free agent. Lacey signed with the Dolphins, but was cut on Saturday.
TE Khari Lee (6-4, 253)
Lee is a former Division II All-American out of Bowie State. He was an undrafted rookie signing of the Houston Texans (2015). Traded to Chicago just prior to his rookie season, Lee appeared in all 16 games for the Bears, including seven starts, but has just one career reception.
He did not make the Bears roster the following year and was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions, spending half the season on the 53-man roster and half on the practice squad. He was just cut by the Lions on Saturday.
OT Conor McDermott (6-8, 305)
A sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots this past spring, McDermott was the starting left tackle his last two years in college at UCLA, and was invited to the Senior Bowl.
Many pro talent evaluators projected him to right tackle in the NFL. McDermott was part of New England’s final cuts on Saturday.