Tag: Antonio Williams

Buffalo Bills add 2 to practice squad

Buffalo Bills sign two players, Antonio Williams, Nate Becker, to practice squad, move Evan Boehm to injured list.

Running back Antonio Williams and Nate Becker were re-signed by the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday. The pair of players will join the team’s practice squad, the team announced.

The signings comes as little surprise as the Bills hosted both on free-agent visits on Monday, as opposed to workouts which are less likely to turn into signings.

In a corresponding move, offensive lineman Evan Boehm was moved to the practice squad injured list. Boehm, who appeared in 13 games with the Dolphins last season and signed with the Bills this offseason, hasn’t yet appeared in a game for Buffalo in 2020. The Bills did not disclose the nature of his injured yet.  In Week 2 vs. the Dolphins, Buffalo’s starting tight end Dawson Knox left the game early due to a concussion. Considering Becker’s familiarity with the Bills offense, it would not be surprising to see him join the team’s practice squad, at least temporarily, to provide depth.

Becker spent time with the Bills over the past two training camps and had a little time on their practice squad as well in 2019.

Williams was an undrafted rookie free agent signee of the Bills following the 2020 NFL Draft. He has since been cut twice by the Bills. He briefly took a graduate assistant coaching position with his alma mater, the University of North Carolina, but promptly left it to re-join the Bills.

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Report: Bills to re-sign RB Antonio Williams

Buffalo Bills rookie running back Antonio Williams is re-signing with the team.

As training camp winds down this week, the Buffalo Bills are reportedly re-signing a running back who was released earlier this month. That player is former undrafted rookie free agent Antonio Williams.

Williams was cut by the Bills on Aug. 5 to make room for two players who came off their Reserve/ COVID-19 list. The running back’s return was reported by Syracuse.com. Ironically enough, the Bills currently have some roster space because of a few moves recently made by the team. One of which was cornerback Ike Brown retiring and he was previously one of the two players Williams helped make room for earlier this month when he was cut.

After Williams was released by the Bills prior to ever even getting on the practice field, he returned to the University of North Carolina where he was working as a graduate assistant coach. Currently the Bills have a few dinged up backs which could allow Williams a brief opportunity to impress.

Rookie Zack Moss was in a non-contract red jersey during Sunday’s practice due to a neck injury. Special teams ace and rusher Taiwan Jones and international back Christian Wade have also missed time due to knee and quad injuries, respectively.

Williams previously played college ball at Ohio State being transferring to UNC.

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Bills bring back Siran Neal, Ike Brown from COVID list, cut two others

Buffalo Bills defensive backs Siran Neal, Ike Brown, activated from COVID-19 list while Antonio Williams, Jonathan Woodard are released.

The Buffalo Bills brought a pair of players back from their COVID-19/ Reserve list on Wednesday. Defensive backs Ike Brown and Siran Neal re-join the team’s roster following their designation for the coronavirus.

In a corresponding set of moves, running back Antonio Williams and defensive end Jonathan Woodard were released by the team.

Both Williams and Brown are undrafted rookie free agent signings of the Bills from earlier this offseason. However, the Bills’ cornerback room took a hit last week when EJ Gaines decided to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19. By comparison, the Bills’ running back room is set with Devin Singletary and Zack Moss at the top, along with TJ Yeldon and Taiwan Jones in backup roles.

Neal is expected to feature as a versatile defender for the Bills in 2020, as both a safety and potential nickel cornerback.

Woodard has bounced around the league, and only appeared in regular season action in 2018 for the Dolphins. The Bills’ defensive end room is also one of the deeper groups on the team’s roster as things currently sit.

The Bills do currently have one open roster spot, but it’s expected that will be taken by offensive lineman Brian Winters in the coming days. Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane previously said that new signees might have to wait up to five days before joining their new teammates due to safety precautions involving the coronavirus.

 

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3 undrafted free agents with best chance to make Bills roster

Three undrafted rookie free agents with the best chance to make the Buffalo Bills’ 2020 NFL roster.

The Bills made their seven picks they entered the 2020 NFL Draft with at last month’s event. Despite a respectable haul, things could become even more impressive if the team hits on some of their undrafted rookie free agents.

And just because a guy wasn’t drafted, doesn’t mean they don’t have talent. Just ask Cole Beasley or Mario Addison. Diamonds can be found in the rough in the late rounds of the draft. They can also be found in the thick weeds of undrafted free agency.

The Bills announced the signing of eight such players following the draft. Could some of these guys actually find a way to their final roster?

Here are three of those UDFAs with the best chance to crack the Bills’ final 53-man roster:

North Carolina Tar Heels running back Antonio Williams. Credit: Lee Luther Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

RB Antonio Williams

Vitals: 5-foot-11, 215 pounds

Yes, the Bills did draft Zack Moss in the third-round of the draft to pair him with Devin Singletary in their backfield. But teams do keep several running backs on their roster, and Antonio Williams could find a way there. Moss is viewed as the bigger rushing option… Williams has even more size than him. Both Moss and Williams conducted “virtual” 40-yard dash workouts prior to the draft and even though he’s larger, Williams put up the same time as Moss, 4.52 seconds.

While undrafted, Williams was once a highly-touted Ohio State prospect. He transferred closer to home and played in a loaded backfield so his numbers were never eye-popping enough to get him drafted. In 2018, he managed to average 5.5 yards per carry, while averaging 6.7 in 2019, but on a smaller workload. Williams was also a respected teammate who could mesh well in a depth role with the Bills. The current favorite for the Bills’ No. 3 running back spot is TJ Yeldon, but he could easily be a cap casualty if Williams preforms well this summer.

 

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Bills sign 8 undrafted rookie free agents

Buffalo Bills UDFA signings following the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Buffalo Bills made the signing of eight undrafted rookie free agents on Friday. General manager Brandon Beane said following the draft that it might take a longer while to get signees announced because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Now that the team has finally been able to get players inked to deals, here’s who the Bills have signed:

OL Trey Adams | Washington

S Garrett Taylor | Penn State

CB Ike Brown | FIU

S Josh Thomas | Appalachian State

FB Reggie Gilliam | Toledo

OL Brandon Walton | FAU

OL Marquel Harrell | Auburn

RB Antonio Williams | North Carolina

 

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