The Bills addressed their player shortage at outside linebacker with the free agent signing of veteran Kroy Biermann on Monday.
Bill Insider Chris Brown reports on the newest signing by Buffalo. Here is his report:
After a season-ending injury at the outside linebacker position in Saturday’s preseason opener, the Bills addressed the roster vacancy Monday in the form of free agent OLB Kroy Biermann. Biermann worked out Monday morning and signed a contract early in the afternoon.
Biermann, 30, has played his entire career for the Atlanta Falcons, who made him a fifth-round pick in the 2008 NFL draft. The nine-year veteran has played mainly as a defensive end in a 4-3 defense, but figures to project to outside linebacker in Buffalo’s 3-4 defensive front.
Primarily a rotational player for Atlanta, Biermann is just two years removed from his most productive season.
Starting 14 games for the Falcons that season, Biermann had 75 tackles, 4.5 sacks and nine quarterback hits in 2014. A durable player, Biermann in his nine NFL seasons has appeared in all 16 regular season games in all but just one season (2013).
He’s played in 114 career games with 37 starts and has totaled 325 tackles, 23.5 sacks, two interceptions, six passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Biermann (6-foot-3, 255 lbs.) made a free agent visit to Buffalo in the spring when the free agent market first opened, but ultimately did not sign a contract with the club.
The Bills lost OLB IK Enemkpali to a season-ending knee injury Saturday night when he tore the ACL in his right leg. It left Buffalo with just five healthy outside linebackers.
“I think it’s a concern,” said head coach Rex Ryan. “I think we’d all feel a lot better if Manny (Lawson) was practicing, but he’s not. Until he does you don’t have that comfort level.”
Lawson has been on the Active/Non-Football Injury list since the start of camp after sustaining a partially torn pectoral muscle in a personal workout just before training camp opened. Ryan did not provide a timetable for Lawson’s return saying the main goal is to have him ready for the season opener in September.
Enemkpali was waived/injured to make room for Biermann on the roster.