Former #Bills RB Christian Wade returns to rugby roots, signs in France:
Former Buffalo Bills running back Christian Wade is returning to his first love.
Wade recently announced that he’s signing with the Racing 92 rugby club. The team is located in Nanterre, France, and Wade confirmed the news himself on social media:
I’m excited to announce I’ve officially signed for @racing92 Looking forward to working with this special group of people and winning championships! With God, all things are possible 🙏🏿❤️ pic.twitter.com/FzOePyR5sk
The 31-year-old spent the past three years in Buffalo. The Bills were allocated the dynamic English rugby player in the NFL’s International Pathway Program.
Prior to signing with the Bills, Wade played for the Wasps rugby club in England from 2011 to 2018.
Never making an impact on the Bills during a regular season contest, Wade did ignite fans during the preseason. Specifically against the Carolina Panthers, he displayed his talents by ripping off a 65-yard touchdown run in one game in 2019.
Wade ended up spending 2021 injured with a shoulder issue.
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott updates running back situation on Devin Singletary, Zack Moss.
The Buffalo Bills rarely reveal any plans of theirs. Head coach Sean McDermott often keeps his cards close to his chest.
In regard to the latest news surrounding the Bills’ running back room, McDermott did let his guard down a tad.
Most would expect the next-man up to be second-year pro Devin Singletary. That appears to be confirmed, a bit, by the coach on Monday after McDermott confirmed the news that rookie rusher Zack Moss would miss the rest of the playoffs with an ankle injury.
“I told (Singletary) it’s his time to step up,” McDermott said via video conference. “This team is one hundred percent confident in Devin Singletary.”
“He’s very aware of that and more than capable,” McDermott added.
While the Bills coach did reveal a little nugget in there, it’s not the most shocking thing. During the regular season, Moss and Singletary had split snaps for the most part. After the midpoint of the year, Moss did start to see the slight edge on Singletary in terms of snaps played, but both guys were getting touches.
In 13 games, Moss averaged 4.3 yards per carry, putting up 481 total. Singletary saw his yards per carry drop from 5.1 a year ago to 4.4 in 2020. Moss led the Buffalo running back room with 687 yards, but didn’t miss time like Moss had. Singletary did feature as the Bills’ pass-catching back more than double the amount of Moss as well, notching 38 catches to the rookie’s 14.
Where the more intriguing decision lies is replacing Moss’s roster spot. In most cases during the season, when both Moss and Singletary were healthy, they were the only running backs active on game day. Behind them for most of the year was presumably TJ Yeldon.
Yeldon appeared in three games for Buffalo in 2020, Weeks 3-5, while Moss was injured. In that time, Yeldon had 10 carries for 70 yards with one catch for 22 yards, which also went for a touchdown. In Buffalo’s other 13 games, he was mostly inactive or on the team’s COVID-19 list for a brief time.
But since Yeldon’s time in the lineup, another running back has captured the hearts of those in western New York, Antonio Williams. Formerly an undrafted rookie this past offseason, Williams has been on and off of Buffalo’s practice squad all year. In Week 17 he was finally called up from the taxi squad and produced with a big game which included two touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins.
Finally there’s Christian Wade, the international who shined in the 2019 preseason.
McDermott mentioned all three players as potential replacements, perhaps in an effort not to give away too much intel to the Baltimore Ravens ahead of their Round 2 meeting on Saturday, but McDermott did add a little extra on Williams.
“We’ll look at guys on our roster that we have a lot of confidence in, T.J [Yeldon], Antonio [Williams], Christian [Wade]. We’ll take a look at what our options are,” McDermott said.
“He certainly popped,” McDermott mentioned on Williams.
The Bills could go numerous ways with their decision, but rolling with Singletary primarily would appear to be the smartest play on paper.
Buffalo Bills international Christian Wade hopes to make a push for the team’s roster in 2020.
The Buffalo Bills made a splash from across the pond last season when they were allocated 29-year-old British rugby star Christian Wade via the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. Now entering his second year in the league, the running back hopes to make the 53-man roster with the Bills despite the cancellation of preseason games.
With a full year of learning and training under his belt, some wonder whether an adequate opportunity will be available for him to make the team. Chatting via video conference this week from Bills training camp, Wade said that’s not how he’s viewing things. Instead, he’s taking the hand he’s being dealt and making no excuses.
“This is my second year and it’s I guess a make or break year. It’s ironic, the fact that we’re not going to have any preseason games and this whole crazy situation… I believe I do [have a chance to make the roster], because of the way that the Bills organization and everything is set up. Coach [Sean McDermott] really believes in choosing the best players to be a part of the team, to be in the squad, so I feel as though if I prove myself in practice – and he’s giving us lots of opportunities to really put our best foot forwards, then I’ll really have a chance to make the team.”
Time and time again, McDermott has shown this is a true message. It’s helped the Bills bring in many free agents. The best play will play in Buffalo. Come on in and no matter who you are, if you earn it, you get the job.
And even though he’s still new-ish to football, Wade’s talented. He was a top Premiership Rugby league winger in the United Kingdom. He holds the Premiership record of 82 tries for scores in 130 appearances for the Wasps Football Club of Coventry. Wade shined early on during last year’s NFL preseason program, showcasing elite talent as he carried for a 65-yard touchdown run in his first play from scrimmage during live game action. Fans and teammates alike went nuts on the play.
Christian Wade’s first touch in the NFL went well 🔥
Buffalo has made some upgrades to their offensive backfield this offseason, including bolstering the backfield by selecting Utah’s Zack Moss in the third round of the recent draft. The team also brought back Taiwan Jones in free agency, who will mostly be a special teams option. This new mix of talent joins Wade along with first-year standout Devin Singletary and veteran TJ Yeldon, who spent parts of last season inactive.
While the possibility of returning to the team’s practice squad as an exempted member remains, Wade is still keeping confident in his chances to make the cut. But regardless of the final outcome, there’s never going to be any doubt in Wade’s mind that he made the right decision to give American football a go.
“There’s no regrets whatsoever on my side,” he shared. “When I make a decision, I’ve already thought it out in my mind. I’m not someone to make to make spur of the moment decisions. When it’s a big decision, if I’ve made it, it’s something I’ve thought about. There’s definitely no regrets.
“The whole reason I came out here was that an opportunity presented itself and I wanted to test myself against the best athletes in the world, to put myself in a situation where I knew I was going to be uncomfortable but it’d make me grow as a man and an athlete as well.”
Just don’t take Wade’s word, either. Earlier this offseason, quarterback Josh Allen discussed the international rusher in February. Allen himself said he sees a chance for Wade.
“I do. I definitely do,” Allen said. “He’s awesome. Just how he attacks each day.”
The Buffalo Bills are a few short weeks away from arriving for training camp in Western New York. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the preseason festivities will be diminished; the team will not hold their sessions at St. John Fisher College, their training camp location since 2000.
Nevertheless, the aim of the training camp remains the same. The organization must prepare players for the preseason, which depth players will compete in their final battle for a roster spot.
Training camp could hold greater importance this year, as the trimmed down preseason slate leaves fewer opportunities for players to impress the coaching staff.
The Bills Wire will complete a position-by-position analysis of each group on the Bills roster. This edition will focus on the running back position:
Bills running back Devin Singletary. Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Players (age)
Devin Singletary (22: 2nd season)
Zack Moss (22: Rookie)
TJ Yeldon (26: 6th season)
Christian Wade (29: 2nd season)
Taiwan Jones (31: 10th season)
Antonio Williams (22: Rookie)
Patrick DiMarco (31: 9th season)
Reggie Gilliam (22: Rookie)
2019 recap
It seems like ages ago, but the Bills entered the 2019 training with a three-headed monster: incumbent LeSean McCoy, veteran free-agent signee Frank Gore, and rookie Devin Singletary. McCoy’s decline and Singletary’s emergence ultimately left Buffalo with the difficult decision of releasing McCoy, their starting running back for the previous four seasons.
Gore led the way to start the season. He rushed for at least 55 yards in five of the first six games of the campaign. Gore showed the bruising rushing style that the Bills sought. However, he faded throughout the remainder of the year, rushing for over 55 yards only once during the last 10 games of the year. During this stretch, he rushed for an average of 2.6 yards per carry and zero rushing touchdowns on 80 carries. Early in his first season, Singletary was also hampered by a hamstring injury.
The emergence of the rookie Singletary was the major development last year. He burst onto the scene against the Jets, rushing for 70 yards on four carries and reeling in five passes on the day. Motor’s season just kept getting better, as he pushed for more snaps. He ended the season as the team’s leading rusher, averaging 5.1 yards per carry on 151 rushes. Singletary was a pleasant surprise in the passing game as well, as he was third on the team with 29 catches.
From the fullback spot, Patrick DiMarco played when the Bills went to two-back sets on offense. He could also be found split out wide at times, a testament to offensive coordinator Brian Daboll‘s creativity. TJ Yeldon did not dress in 10 games, and the veteran was used sparingly when he was active. Christian Wade was a feel-good story, exploding with a touchdown on his first touch in the preseason. He spent the rest of the season on the team’s practice squad.
Now here’s a rundown of storylines to follow in this position group:
Bills running back Devin Singletary. Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
How will the snaps be divided between Singletary and Moss?
Singletary’s emergence has been easy to notice. Still, the Bills coaching staff was a bit hesitant to give him the keys to the car, as Buffalo started Gore in their Wild Card playoff game, one which saw many clamor for Singletary to get more touches throughout it. With a year under his belt, Singletary should be expected to take on a greater role in the offense.
Still, the NFL largely relies on two-back systems, and the Bills, with a love to establish the run, wanted to find a complement to their second-year player. This is where rookie Zack Moss comes in. The Utah product is a bruising running back. He is compact like Singletary and runs with a little more violence at defenders.
It won’t be shocking to see a heavy diet of Singletary early in the game, while Moss will likely be the back to help close out games.
Buffalo Bills international running back Christian Wade on rugby.
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.
The Bills were placed in the “Much to think about” category with respect to their running backs ahead of free agency.
NFL.com examined the running back situation of each team ahead of free agency’s start next week. For the Buffalo Bills, NFL.com is a bit uncertain of their situation in the backfield.
The analysis placed the Bills in the “Much to think about” category along with the Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets, and Philadelphia Eagles with respect to their running backs.
The Bills have seemingly handed over the reins to Devin Singletary, as he garnered the majority of the backfield touches as last season progressed. However, NFL.com still expresses a little concern ahead of free agency:
Buffalo experimented last summer with a veteran-heavy backfield of LeSean McCoy and Frank Gore, but neither graybeard is expected to be in Western New York this time around. 2019 third-round pick Devin Singletary was brought on slowly behind Gore and emerged as a back worth building around by season’s end. He’s currently flanked by T.J. Yeldon and Briton experiment Christian Wade in Buffalo’s backfield. The Bills can do better and can save $1.7 million by cutting Yeldon, who was a healthy scratch more often than not in 2019. Buffalo can replace Gore with a thicker free agent like Melvin Gordon, Carlos Hyde, Jordan Howard or, well, Gore, if the Bills are open to another go with the 36-year-old.
Singletary rushed for 775 yards on 151 carries. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry, which was among the league’s best for running backs. Yeldon was inactive for most games, and Wade still has a ways to go with learning the North American game.
However, with the depth chart unsettled behind Singletary, there is a good chance the Bills will look to bolster this unit via free agency or the draft. Earlier this month at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott actually did praise Yeldon plenty, though. Could he be a factor in the Bills’ running back room next season?
The Bills Wire podcast, The Kyle Silagyi Hour, recently placed Howard at the top of its hypothetical free agent big board.
Here’s the Buffalo Bills running back situation room entering the 2019 offseason.
Here is Bills Wire’s position-by-position breakdown of the team’s roster, continuing with the running backs, including the season that was and projecting forward:
The Buffalo Bills’ running backs situation took on new life this season, as four-year starter LeSean McCoy was released by the team ahead of the 2019 campaign. Buffalo’s ground attack started with veteran Frank Gore as the lead back early in the 2019 season.
Gore started eight games for the Bills, but his production slipped as the seasons progressed. He surpassed Barry Sanders for third on the all-time rushing list this season as his crowning achievement. The veteran also surpassed the 19,000-yard mark for yards from scrimmage mark.
However, it was easy to see that Devin Singletary’s explosiveness would catapult him into feature back territory eventually. The rookie finally did so and led the team with 775 rushing to the tune of 5.1 yards per carry. He also caught 29 passes this year as well.
Senorise Perry and TJ Yeldon also provided depth. Perry’s contributions were viewed most prominently on special teams. Yeldon ended up being the odd man out, failing to dress for 10 games this season.
Frank Gore #20. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
Contract situation
Singletary is under contract for at least three more seasons, as he is playing under his rookie contract. His cap hit will be $675,000 this year, a bargain if he reproduces his numbers from last year.
Yeldon, for his part, is signed through the 2020 season. He’ll count $1.9 million against the cap next year. His presence on the roster does give the team a solid pass-catching option out of the backfield, if necessary. But Yeldon was seldom found in the team’s active roster on game day in 2019..
Gore signed a one-year deal, as did Perry, during the offseason. Both were team-friendly deals. Gore still hasn’t decided if he’s going to retire or not, and who knows if the Bills would welcome him back? Perry played a mostly special teams role, but Buffalo’s unit did see a big improvement under now special teams coordinator Heath Farwell this season.
Christian Wade, who remains Bills property via international allocation, is also in the fold as he signed a reserve/ futures contract following the season.
The future
Outside of Singletary, this group is largely up in the air. While Gore was an ideal mentor to Singletary, his production late in the season makes it hard to think Buffalo would re-sign the veteran.
Perry could return as an essential part of the team’s special teams unit. However, he offers minimal out of the backfield.
Yeldon could never gain strong footing on a depth job. With Singletary’s emergence as a pass-catcher, this could continue to squeeze Yeldon from snaps, as Yeldon’s primary duty is to provide a receiving presence out of the backfield. His cap hit is reasonable at $1.9 million, but his dead cap hit is only $250,000. Buffalo could easily make this move if they find a replacement.
But one thing is for certain, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said he believes the NFL is a two-back league. So the Bills would have a spot for another without Gore.
The Bills will need to look for a reserve player (or players) to spell Singletary when he needs a breather. Buffalo looks to veterans for depth on the team, so there’s a good chance that the Bills would sign a veteran to backup Singletary. They could look to the draft as well, but the organization’s track record of finding veterans means they’ll test the free agency market.
