Buffalo releases rookie FB Glenn Gronkowski to make room on the roster.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown goes into the details of the current roster moves. Here is his report:
The Bills brought veteran fullback Jerome Felton back into the fold just 10 days after releasing him during final cuts.
After an opening week loss to the Baltimore Ravens where rushing lanes proved tough to come by, Buffalo made a roster move to address it. The Bills re-signed veteran fullback Jerome Felton Monday.
Felton was released when the roster was reduced to 53 on Sept. 2nd. He was signed as a free agent in the 2015 offseason by Buffalo and appeared in all 16 games making eight starts. The Bills led the league in rushing and yards per carry average last season with Felton a contributing factor to that success.
Serving as the team’s primary blocking back and on special teams, Felton is expected to re-assume those roles in his second stint with the club.
Buffalo averaged just 2.7 yards per carry in their Week 1 loss at Baltimore. Their 65 rushing yards this past Sunday was their lowest output since their Week 4 loss to the New York Giants last season when they managed just 55 yards on 24 carries.
The Bills announced that S Damian Parms has been signed to the team’s practice squad.
To make room on the roster for Felton the Bills released rookie FB Glenn Gronkowski.
According to NFL Media reports, the 23-year-old fullback, best known as the youngest brother of Patriots all-world tight end Rob Gronkowski, is being waived by the Bills. The team will re-sign eight-year veteran fullback Jerome Felton, who played in Buffalo last season.
Gronkowski, who played at Kansas State, signed in April as an undrafted free agent with the Bills. He only played eight snaps and did not have any touches against the Ravens on Sunday.
“Baby Gronk” had impressed team officials enough to at least earn a shot.
“He’s the new-age fullback,” Bills general manager Doug Whaley told ESPN after the Bills signed him in April. “A guy that can play a little H-back, play a little fullback, play a little tight end, so that’s game-day versatility. That’s a guy at 46 on your 46-man roster during game day that can play a little H-back, play a little fullback, play a little tight end, so that’s game-day versatility. That’s a guy at 46 on your 46-man roster during game day that can play three different positions and special teams, so I think a guy like that definitely has a chance.”