The Bills had until Sept. 2nd before they had to make cuts, but on Tuesday they trimmed six players from the roster.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
The NFL eliminated the roster cut down to 75 this year allowing all teams to carry up to 90 players right through to the final cut down to 53 on Sept. 2nd. The Bills however, decided to trim their roster before that deadline on Tuesday releasing six players.
Headlining the cuts was safety Bacarri Rambo.
Rambo, who was signed by the club just before training camp opened, was hoping to get a second stint with the Bills. Rambo however, could not move past second team safeties Shamiel Gary or Trae Elston on the depth chart.
The other players released were OL Karim Barton, DE Jake Metz, RB Cedric O’Neal, CB Jumal Rolle, and return man Rashad Ross.
The cuts now put Buffalo’s roster total at 83 players.
Taylor, Yates still in concussion protocol
Just three days removed from sustaining concussions in the game against Baltimore, there wasn’t much of an update on Buffalo’s two injured quarterbacks, Tyrod Taylor and T.J. Yates.
“They’re in concussion protocol,” said head coach Sean McDermott. “Very little information flows out of that. That’s part of the situation. We just respect what’s going on there and they’re in the protocol and that’s basically the information I get every day.”
Neither quarterback will be available for Thursday’s preseason finale against Detroit. That leaves Buffalo with rookie Nate Peterman and Keith Wenning, who signed Monday as the only healthy quarterbacks for the Lions game.
McDermott admits that the challenge will be significant for Wenning to get up to speed in the span of three days for the game, but playing time for Wenning and Peterman will be based on what the Bills newest signal caller can absorb between now and Thursday night.
“A lot of it depends on how quickly Keith gets up to speed, which is a short week so there’s a challenge,” McDermott said. “But Keith has been in the system before in Baltimore. That was the main attraction with Keith and he’s a good football player. I look forward to seeing him in action Thursday night. How much remains to be seen. The balance of Nate and Keith is what we’re driving at right now for Thursday night.”
The other thing for McDermott and his offensive staff to consider is how much they want to expose Peterman in the game, knowing he could be the only healthy quarterback going into Week 1 that knows the offense backwards and forwards.
“It’s something that we need to stay on top of and get the best feel we can with respect to Tyrod and T.J. and how that affects Week 1,” said McDermott. “We have to monitor that very closely.”
Ragland trade good for both sides
Reggie Ragland’s slide down Buffalo’s depth chart was an indication that he just wasn’t proving effective in the team’s defensive scheme. Part of it could’ve been related to his rehabilitation from a torn ACL last year, and part could be his lack of familiarity in the system. However, head coach Sean McDermott pointed to another factor that made Ragland expendable.
“It was more what Preston Brown. Preston Brown has had a great camp. He has proven himself as a starting middle linebacker for us,” said McDermott. “I like the way the defense is playing. So it’s more of what Preston did rather than what Reggie didn’t do.”
McDermott said he appreciated all the hard work that Ragland put in while with the Bills, but sees the trade as one that is mutually beneficial.
“We’re into good football players and Reggie is a good football player. It was just the right fit for us in terms of the trade. It worked out for both sides for Kansas City and ourselves,” he said. “That’s why we pulled the trigger. We feel like we got a good draft pick and we know how important those are for building this football team for many years to come.”
Jordan Matthews not full go yet
Wide receiver Jordan Matthews has been working hard to return from his sternum injury, but at this point he has not been cleared for contact.
“He’s still participating on a limited basis. He’s out there and still getting some work. He’s not full contact yet, but that said we like the direction he’s going,” McDermott said. “I think Jordan has had the right mindset and the right approach. I love his energy and he’s developing a good rapport with the quarterbacks at this point.”
Of course time with the quarterbacks is reduced to Peterman and Wenning with Taylor and Yates sidelined with concussions.
Matthews wasn’t expected to play Thursday night. The hope is he’ll be ready for the opener.
“We’re still cautiously optimistic,” said McDermott in reference to Week 1. “In saying that he’s not full go yet.”