There’s always a true underdog story of every training camp session for every NFL team. For the Buffalo Bills, it always seems to be that fringe wide receiver who works his way up the depth chart, close to final roster contention.
But last year it was a much different and much more fun tale. The guy was running back Christian Wade, who came to the Bills via the NFL’s International Pathway Program.
Once an all-world rugby player from England, Wade hung up those cleats for a helmet and shoulder pads and took the Bills by storm last year. Buffalo had a roster exemption for Wade, meaning they could pretty much keep him as a bonus player on the practice squad. But even Wade, brand new to football in 2019, turned some heads.
Remember his awesome 65-yard rushing touchdown on his first ever carry in the preseason when his teammates stormed him? Then he followed that up with a 48-yard catch and run the next week?
After that, Wade faded into the background, continuing the learn the ins and outs of football because he was still brand new to the game. He’s done that so much in the past year now that Wade even admitted to the Buffalo News that football’s now so ingrained into him that… rugby is just now looking… odd to him.
“Now if I see rugby, it feels weird watching it. I feel like I’m fully transitioned now into a football player in terms of the way I think. In terms of the way I play, Wade said.
Of course Wade knows realistically that he’s still got those rugby ties, though.
“I probably still play like a rugby player. There are still a lot of techniques and nuances I’m still trying to learn and master, but yeah, I’m starting to think more like a football player and rugby is further in the past now,” Wade said.
In addition, Wade, 28, said now that he’s no longer a “rookie” things are overall coming a lot easier. Wade mentioned he was even surprised himself that during virtual meetings this offseason he had no speed bumps, he understands what’s going on with his role, the offensive line and everyone else around him. That’s a far cry from a guy who barely knew how to put on a helmet a year ago.
Wade will have hopes of making the Bills’ final 53-man roster, but it’s likely he’s put on that exempt spot once again this offseason because the team has that option to do so once more. In Buffalo’s running back room, Devin Singletary and Zack Moss are established. To make the roster, Wade would have to beat out TJ Yeldon, Taiwan Jones and Antonio Williams, who was a UDFA signing of the Bills.
The international will hope that the Bills decide to keep four running backs this offseason. Because of Wade’s lack of experience on special teams, guys like Yeldon and Jones could have the edge on him, but with a fourth and extra back selected for the roster, that could help Wade slide onto the 53-man roster.
[lawrence-related id=64423,64345,64325,64277]