Tag: bills news

Bills sign ex-Broncos wide receiver to practice squad

The Bills signed ex-Broncos wide receiver Jalen Virgil to their practice squad.

The Buffalo Bills have signed wide receiver Jalen Virgil to their practice squad, the team announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Virgil (6-0, 210 pounds) entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Appalachian State with the Denver Broncos in 2022. He dressed for nine games as a rookie, hauling in two receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown. Virgil then missed the 2023 season with a knee injury.

Virgil competed in a crowded wide receiver room this summer and was ultimately cut when the Broncos set their 53-man roster in August. He then joined Buffalo’s practice squad. Virgil was promoted to the Bills’ active roster on Nov. 8 and he appeared in six games before being cut on Dec. 14. He now returns to Buffalo on the team’s practice squad.

Elsewhere on the ex-Bronco front, offensive lineman Zack Johnson worked out for the San Francisco 49ers this week and receiver/returner Isaiah McKenzie signed to the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad.

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49ers can play spoiler for Bills playoff chances

The San Francisco 49ers have slim playoff hopes of their own, but they can also play spoiler against the Buffalo Bills in Week 13.

The San Francisco 49ers saw their playoff chances plummet following consecutive losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.

While the 49ers are still technically in the playoff hunt, their season may be better defined by whether they can play spoiler for other teams. That’s what they’ll be aiming to do Sunday while also trying to keep their own playoff hopes on life support.

Buffalo has dominated a relatively weak AFC East and entered Week 13 with a simple clinching scenario. They needed the Miami Dolphins to lose to the Packers on Thanksgiving night. Green Bay handled business for Buffalo in that one, routing the Dolphins 30-17 at Lambeau Field.

Now the Bills can clinch the AFC East title and a playoff spot by knocking off the 49ers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday night.

While it’s all but a certainty the Bills will eventually wrap up the division, the 49ers should at least draw a little motivation from trying to keep it from happening against them. Not to mention their own slim playoff hopes revolve around winning some games they probably shouldn’t on paper. That starts Sunday in Buffalo where a win would improve the 49ers’ own postseason chances, and delay the Bills’ celebration for at least one more week.

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Bills’ Damar Hamlin wins PFWA Comeback Player of the Year

#Bills’ Damar Hamlin wins PFWA Comeback Player of the Year:

13 months ago, Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during the Buffalo Bills’ matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle in the Week 17 game.. He was administered CPR before being rushed to a local Cincinnati hospital.

Hamlin recovered and played in his first game since the medical incident in the Bills preseason outing against the Indianapolis Colts. He made the 53 man squad after preseason and made his debut in an AFC East divisional showdown against the Miami Dolphins, who were fighting to also win the division.

Hamlin has received a top honor for his impressive return to high-level football. Hamlin was awarded the Professional Football Writers of America’s Comeback Player of the Year:

In the 2023 season, Hamlin played five games. While the box score isn’t as impactful as it may seem, the fact that Hamlin narrowly escaped death to compete and earn a spot in the Bills team was very impressive.

According to bettors, once Hamlin made the 53-man roster he was a heavy favorite to win all season long. We will see after the culmination of the season whether he also wins the prestigious NFL Comeback Player of the Year as voted by the Associated Press. Last season’s winner Geno Smith won both awards.

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Bills vs Patriots: How to watch, listen, stream & broadcast map

Bills vs Patriots: How to watch, listen, stream & broadcast map

The Buffalo Bills (9-6) have another tough test in Week 17 in their quest to secure postseason football as they host the New England Patriots (4-11).

Here is everything you need to know about the game and how to watch, listen or stream Bills at Patriots live:

Game information:

Teams: Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots.

Date: Sunday, Dec. 31.

Kickoff time: 1:00 p.m. EST.

Kickoff weather: 36 degrees, 30% chance of rain.

Location: Highmark Stadium (Orchard Park, NY).

Television Broadcast crew (CBS Sports): Kevin Harlan, Trent Green

Broadcast coverage area: Bills vs. Patriots in blue

Streaming: fuboTV (try it free).

Radio: Buffalo Bills radio network.

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Chargers Week 16 injury report: Keenan Allen not practicing for second straight day

Keenan Allen’s availability for this Saturday against the Bills is now in question.

Keenan Allen (heel) did not practice on Wednesday, marking the second straight day he was non participant ahead of the Chargers’ game against the Bills.

Allen’s availability for this Saturday is now in question. This would be the second consecutive game he misses if he’s ruled out.

Allen is currently the league leader in receptions with 108, and has 1,243 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Deane Leonard (heel) was also a non-participant.

Essang Bassey (concussion), Tanner Muse (knee), Amen Ogbongbemiga (hamstring), Trey Pipkins (wrist) and Nick Williams (shoulder) were limited.

Statistical Breakdown: How the Chargers and Bills stack up before Week 16 game

Here’s how the Chargers and Bills stack up statistically ahead of the Week 16 matchup.

The Chargers and Bills are set to square off this Saturday.

Here’s how Los Angeles and Buffalo stack up statistically ahead of the Week 16 matchup:

Oddsmakers: Bills open as underdog for first time in 2023 vs. Bengals

#Bills are underdogs for the first time vs the #Bengals:

After Thursday’s comfortable win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Buffalo Bills waited for the rest of Week 8 action to continue on Sunday.

During that slate, their upcoming opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals, defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 31-17.

After the Bengals’ dominant performance against a team expected to compete for the Super Bowl, the opening betting lines have been released. The Buffalo Bills will be underdogs when they visit the Cincinnati Bengals, in their primetime matchup on Sunday night for the first time since the Bills lost to the Bengals in the 2022 AFC Divisional Round. 

According to BetMGM, the Bills (5-3) have opened as a 1.5-point underdog against the Bengals (4-3). With Buffalo’s up-and-down 2023 NFL season, bettors believe that the Bengals, who are the home team and typically get a three point advantage, will defeat the Bills.

With both teams’ records close to each other and the spread only being a couple of points towards the Bengals, it would make sense that some would pick the Bills. After all, Thursday’s win was the Bills’ most complete performance since their three game winning streak earlier this season. But do the Bills cover, or even win?

Cincinnati started the season 1-3, but have won three games in a row. Meanwhile, Buffalo started the season 3-1 before alternating between losses and wins. Overall, Buffalo’s record against the spread is 3-5. In their last four games they have lost against the spread.

The Bills and Bengals matchup has opened at a point total of 47.5. That is the highest that it has been for Buffalo in the last three weeks.

The Bills have hit the over in only three of their eight games this season. In the last month, during Buffalo’s inconsistencies, they have only hit the over once in their 25-29 loss to the Patriots.

The moneyline sits at Bills (+108) and Bengals (-126).

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Bills restructure contract of Dion Dawkins to create cap space

The #Bills free’d up some cap space ahead of the trade deadline:

The Buffalo Bills front office is working throughout the regular season again as they restructured starting left tackle Dion Dawkins’ contract.

According to ESPN’s Field Yates on Tuesday, the Bills (4-3) recently restructured Dawkins’ contract. The change converted base salary into a signing bonus, a move Buffalo has seen general manager Brandon Beane often use to create cap space.

With Dawkins, Beane has created about $3.9 million in cap space at an interesting time. The 2023 NFL trade deadline is looming, only one week away on Halloween, Oct. 31.

In changing Dawkins’ contract, Beane has trusted his method which he has most recently used when reworking the contracts of cornerback Taron Johnson and offensive lineman Ryan Bates.

Per Spotrac, Dawkins’ deal had $5.2M of his 2023 salary converted into a signing bonus. Dawkins, 29, signed a four-year extension ahead of the 2020 season.

Prior to this contract restructure, the team was approximately under the salary cap by less than $1M. Despite the move happening right before the trade deadline, it’s unclear if a move is en route.

Bills Wire will continue to bring roster updates leading up to the trade deadline and throughout the 2023 season.

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Buffalo Bills bring back former Georgia QB Jake Fromm

The Buffalo Bills are bringing back former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm. Buffalo has added Fromm to their practice squad.

The Buffalo Bills are bringing back former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm. Buffalo has added Fromm to their practice squad.

The team announced on Tuesday that they released Fromm and several others, but the former UGA quarterback went unclaimed on waivers. So now, Buffalo can add him back to their practice squad.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Jake Fromm will be a key member of the Bills’ practice squad. Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Fromm, UGA’s fourth all-time passing leader (8,224 yards), was drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft and was the Bills’ emergency COVID-19 quarterback last season. Fromm spent much of last season isolated from the team until this offseason.

In his freshman season, Fromm won the starting job over Jacob Eason and led Georgia to a 13-2 record. The Bulldogs went on to win the SEC Championship and the Rose Bowl. Fromm and the Dawgs fell just short in the national championship against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

During his sophomore campaign, Fromm improved, but Georgia fell short of its national championship goal. UGA missed the playoffs after suffering another defeat to Alabama.

During his junior year, Fromm helped UGA make a third consecutive SEC Championship.

Fromm helped lead Buffalo on a game-winning drive this preseason. Fromm and the NFL did not have a preseason last year, so it was good for him to get live-game experience again.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the news:

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Buffalo Bills cut former UGA football QB Jake Fromm

Buffalo Bills cut former UGA QB Jake Fromm

The Buffalo Bills announced on Tuesday that they have released former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm.

Fromm, UGA’s fourth all-time passing leader (8,224), was drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 draft and served last season as the team’s emergency COVID-19 relief quarterback. That kept Fromm isolated from the team for most of the year until this offseason.

In his freshman season for UGA, Fromm took the starting spot away from Jacob Eason and led Georgia to a 13-2 record. The Bulldogs went on to win the SEC Championship and the Rose Bowl. They nearly won the national championship, but Alabama came back from a 20-7 deficit in the 3rd quarter to win.

During his sophomore campaign, Fromm improved as a player, but Georgia fell short of its national championship goal as it was snubbed from the playoffs after another come-from-behind win from Alabama.

During his junior year, Fromm led UGA to an 11-1 regular season record before getting blown out by LSU in the SEC Championship Game.

Fromm had recently played his best preseason game in which he was 10-of-16 passing for 87 yards. He did not record a passing touchdown. His 17 yards on the ground, however, led Buffalo in rushing.