Tag: TJ Yeldon

Bills Wire’s Week 5 Player of the Game: RB T.J. Yeldon

As the Bills lost their first game of the 2020 season, there was a challenge in finding a Bills Wire Player of the Week.

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As the Bills lost their first game of the 2020 season, there was a challenge in finding a Bills Wire Player of the Week. No one on the Bills played particularly… well… in a 42-16 loss. 

However, the player that showed the most spark throughout the evening was running back TJ Yeldon. The unlikely choice for a Player of the Week nod led the team in rushing yards, with 52, and caught a 22-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.

Buffalo hopes to rebound next Monday against the Kansas City Chiefs and get back on track after this bump in the road after a wishy-washy game.

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T.J. Yeldon’s roster spot with Bills could be in jeopardy

Former Alabama RB TJ Yeldon made the 53-man roster for the Buffalo Bills, but that could be in jeopardy if they decide to add Lamar Miller.

Former Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon has not had the easiest time in the NFL. After being a star at Alabama, and being selected No. 36 overall in 2015 by the Jacksonville Jaguars, he has been forced into the role of ‘next man up.’ Now, there is a risk Yeldon could enter the 2020 season without a team.

The former Crimson Tide running back made the 53-man roster for the Buffalo Bills, and currently sits as the third-string running back in a positional group of four on the recently released depth chart.

He is listed behind the starter, Devin Singletary, entering his sophomore season with the team after a strong collegiate career under Lane Kiffin at FAU, and 2020 third-round selection Zack Moss.

The only running back below Yeldon is veteran Taiwan Jones.

While these are the current depth chart standings, changes could be made due to cuts and new additions to the team, like a late signing before the season gets under way.

ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that veteran running back Lamar Miller, who played at the University of Miami and has bounced around three different teams during his seven-year career, will be visiting and working out with the Buffalo Bills.

The report was confirmed by the Bills’ general manager, who claims the team has invited Miller to work out, but has not yet met with him.

“We have not visited with Lamar, but he is coming to town at some point. We’ll get him in here, we’ll talk to him, and if there’s a fit, we’ll see where it goes,” Beane said. “Long way to go before we know if we’ll add him to our roster.”

Miller, who missed all of 2019 with a torn ACL, is looking for a chance to revitalize his career. A veteran with plenty of experience as the lead back could be beneficial to the development of Singletary’s young career.

If the Bills like what they see, they could bring him on board, but would likely have to let go of a running back on the roster.

When looking at the contracts, Jones is owed almost $400,000 more than Yeldon in 2020. Both contracts expire at the end of this season.

Production wise, both backs haven’t seen the field much. however, Yeldon has seen more carries in recent years, but in a role that doesn’t rely on him too heavily.

At the end of the day, it would come down to who they feel would bring the most amount of value to the team on, and off the field.

Yeldon hasn’t been given too many opportunities with Buffalo in his one season with the franchise. In 2019, the 26-year old saw 17 carries and 13 receptions for a total of 187 yards from scrimmage and zero total touchdowns.

As of right now, Yeldon holds a spot on the Buffalo Bills roster, but that could all change with the work out of Lamar Miller and the way the coaching staff views the running back room.

Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on Yeldon as he looks to begin season No. 6 in the NFL.

Who could be surprise cut, trade candidates as Bills training camp ends?

Buffalo Bills players who could be surprise trade or cut candidates as 2020 training camp ends.

The Buffalo Bills are entering the final days of their 2020 training camp, even if it seems like it just began. In less than two weeks the club welcomes the New York Jets to Bills Stadium for their season-opening contest in front of no fans.

Even sooner is training camp cut day. The Bills have until Saturday at 4 p.m. to get down to 53 players. In order to get there, some guys will but cut, while others could be interesting trade options. Perhaps some of these moves could be considered surprises, too. Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane hasn’t been shy about making bold moves in recent seasons, which has included swinging players for draft picks.

With that, let’s look at a few surprise cut and trade candidates as the Bills enter the final week of training camp:

Bills running back T.J. Yeldon. (James P. McCoy/The Buffalo News via AP, Pool)

RB TJ Yeldon

TJ Yeldon potentially not making this roster comes down to one other player: Antonio Williams. The Bills re-signed Williams this week, reportedly. He was with the team earlier this offseason. If Williams impressed enough in the final few days of camp, could Yeldon be expendable? 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 out of UNC. But having said that, it’d certainly be considered a surprise to see Williams stay and Yeldon go.

The veteran has been around all offseason and he provides some veteran depth behind the youthful starting duo of Devin Singletary and Zack Moss. Williams was likely signed this week due to injuries at the position over the past week.

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Maurice Jones-Drew names Devin Singletary AFC East’s best RB

Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary is the AFC East’s best running back, according to NFL.com’s Maurice Jones-Drew.

Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary landed in the middle of Maurice Jones-Drew’s annual running back rankings ahead of the upcoming regular season. But facts are facts, Singletary was also the highest-rated rusher from the AFC East on MJD’s list.

Overall, Singletary ranked as MJD’s 16th best starting running back in the NFL. Here’s how MJD broke Singletary down via NFL.com:

The Bills will have a committee spearheaded by Singletary, who, as a rookie, showed his ability to make people miss and line up out wide, along with his elusiveness out of the backfield. Even though he may have to share carries with T.J. Yeldon and Zack Moss, the opportunities will be fruitful, because the run game will be the focus. The addition of Stefon Diggs will also help the run game, as the No. 1 receiver will draw an extra defender out of the box.

As a rookie, Singletary had 775 total rushing yards, but he only played in 12 games. Because of that, he’s a bit overlooked in rankings of the NFL’s backs. But No.16 is still probably a just spot for him. Despite MJD’s analysis, Singletary’s not going to lose snaps to Yeldon. Moss? Maybe, but Singletary will still get his look and will have a chance to improve on his solid start to his career. Singletary showed despite his small size, he’s an all-around back that can quickly get to the outside while also wiggling for yards down the middle of a defense.

Circling back to the AFC East, the Jets’ Le’Veon Bell slots in at No. 20 overall, while the Patriots’ Sony Michel is 26th and the Dolphins’ Jordan Howard lands at No.30. Looking ahead, Bell might have the best look to jump Singletary in the future. He was a former All-Pro with the Steelers and the Jets are looking to help him in 2020 because their offensive line can only go up from last season. They were bad.

Looking at the rest of MJD’s list, the Bills do have some formidable offenses lining up against them in 2020, but not exactly some of the best running backs. On MJD’s rank, the only two backs the Bills face in 2020 that appear in the top-10 are the Titans’ Derrick Henry (7) and Raiders’ Josh Jacobs (9).

 

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What’s next for T.J. Yeldon?

It’s clear that Yeldon doesn’t have the ability to be a lone lead back for a franchise, he would fit best in a committee. His pass-catchi…

As he enters his sixth year in the NFL, former Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon continues to have a difficult time finding his niche in a professional backfield.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Yeldon in the 2015 NFL draft with the No. 36 pick in the second round. The Jaguars did not have big plans for the Alabama product. He sat behind Chris Ivory and Leonard Fournette consecutively.

His rookie season in 2015 was his best season in the league. He had his career highs in carries (182), the most yards (740) and tied for the most amount of touchdowns he’s scored in a season (2).

Those unimpressive stats are likely what started the decline in Yeldon’s opportunities to see the field and make plays, which ultimately led to him deciding to leave Jacksonville in search of a team that would help broadcast his talent and value him as a key member of the offense.

Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

In the 2019 offseason, Yeldon signed a two-year deal with the Buffalo Bills worth $3.2 million.

After seeing how his first season went with the Bills, where he played under Frank Gore and rookie Devin Singletary, it’s safe to say there won’t be any more after the 2020 season.

Yeldon posted 17 carries for 63 yards along with 13 receptions for 124 yards. The versatility is there, but doesn’t carry enough weight to move him up the depth chart.

As the 2020 season gets closer, it appears as if Yeldon’s role continues to be in question.

Gore left the Bills to sign with in-division rival Jets. However, there is still Singletary, who is expected to take the lead, and Buffalo’s 2020 third-round pick, Zack Moss from Utah.

Yeldon may seem like a lost cause to some or a reserve player to others, but Bills head coach Sean McDermott believes Yeldon can contribute.

After the 2020 season, Yeldon becomes an unrestricted free agent. He will likely, once again, search for a backfield where he will be utilized.

Photo credit: Jami Germano/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

It’s clear that Yeldon doesn’t have the ability to be a solo lead back for a franchise, he would fit best in a committee. His pass-catching abilities out of the backfield would make him an interesting addition to any team.

He will have to find a team that is looking towards the future. There’s no point in joining a team that’s an immediate playoff contender because they likely already have their guy.

It is also important to not assume the role of a “transitional running back.” Bouncing around the league from team to team to fill a hole for a season or two per team may work for Ryan Fitzpatrick, but it’s difficult to make a career out of it. He’ll have to find a team that wants him for as long as he wants to play.

Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on all things Alabama in the NFL and informed on what the next step for Yeldon will be!

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Winners, losers following Bills 2020 NFL Draft

Winners and losers on the Buffalo Bills roster following the 2020 NFL Draft.

As is with every draft, every player on the Buffalo Bills got some new teammates. But depending on who those players are… some incumbents from last season are feeling pretty comfy about things.

While others now have a young guy in their position group, potentially vying for their job.

If the 2020 NFL Draft is the fence right down the middle of things, one side of it has some winners while the other has some losers on Buffalo’s roster.

Here’s our list of winners and losers on the Bills roster following the recent draft:

Losers

Buffalo Bills running back T.J. Yeldon. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

RB TJ Yeldon

Both Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane said prior to the draft that they’d be fine with their backfield being Devin Singletary and TJ Yeldon.

It was their most obvious smokescreen to the rest of the NFL.

Everyone knew the Bills wanted a guy like Zack Moss. Bigger, more like Frank Gore and less like Singletary. Yeldon was not that guy. If Yeldon makes Buffalo’s final roster, he’ll likely be a candidate to be inactive plenty on game day once again like he was last year. There’s little chance he’ll see running back snaps next season unless injury strikes.

 

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Instant analysis: Bills add their complementary RB in Zack Moss

It will likely be Devin Singletary and Zack Moss as the one-two punch in Buffalo’s backfield next season. 

It will likely be Devin Singletary and Zack Moss as the one-two punch in the Bills’ backfield next season. With their slotted pick in the third round, No. 86 overall, Buffalo pulled the trigger on Utes RB Zack Moss.

At 5-foot-10 and 222 pounds Moss packs a punch. A physical runner with his best work coming between the tackles, his best attributes include vision, contact balance, power, competitive toughness and footwork. Moss had nearly 800 carries in college with three consecutive seasons of over 1,000 rushing yards, at least 5.5 yards per carry and double-digit touchdowns.

As a receiver, he improved in that area during his senior season and projects well in pass protection. He is fiercely competitive and plenty shifty and elusive given his size. Moss had a poor 40 time at the recent scouting combine, a 4.65-second clip, the fourth-worst among backs there, but you might not think that after watching his tape.

One item of concern is Moss’ injury history. The most severe was a torn meniscus in 2018, but the physical back also banged up his hand and shoulder throughout his collegiate career. Moss stayed healthy in 2019, showing a lot of promise and proving to teams that the injuries were behind him.

Running back was a position of need after Frank Gore is presumably not a candidate being brought back in the fold. Buffalo still has T.J. Yeldon on the roster and signed special teams ace and familiar face, Taiwan Jones, in free agency. Throughout the pre-draft process, the Bills produced what was a very obvious smokescreen, continually saying that the team should be fine with TJ Yeldon in the backfield next season. Yeldon was inactive in numerous games last season, so it’s not surprising that the Bills landed a running back on Day 2.

Moss’s selection in the third round indicates the Bills were serious about supporting Singletary and adding depth to the position. In a league where monitoring carries has been a theme, Moss should provide the short-yardage, goal-line and welcome change of pace for the offensive attack.

The acquisition of Moss likely takes Buffalo out of any trade discussions for Leonard Fournette, who Jacksonville is rumored to be shopping. But that could be a good thing considering the salary cap. Fournette, the former No. 1 overall pick, has a hit near $8 million next season, and the Bills don’t need to trade assets for a guy like him. Instead they used their own to take Moss.

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15 takeaways from Brandon Beane’s post-free agency press conference

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane does a video press conference after free agency.

The “norm” is no more, and Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane changed things up on Thursday during his post-free agency press conference.

Beane discussed all the latest Bills news via video conference with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. That was one of the many topics Beane discussed in his hour-long chat.

In an effort to break all that down, here are 15 takeaways from Beane’s interview following free agency:

Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Stefon Diggs, because of course

It didn’t take long for Beane to get to one of the hottest topics of the entire NFL offseason. While many suspected the Bills were in the market for a top wide receiver, they confirmed that when trading for wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

In regard to the trade, Beane discussed trading for Diggs and its counterpoint. Why not just draft one? Beane said instead of doing so, he wanted a player that can impact things immediately. Diggs is not a prospect who will have a learning curve. He’ll come in and execute, once he learns the Bills offense.

And in an effort to quell any other negative feelings about the draft side of things, Beane explained that he considers Diggs his first-round pick this year, and said that the trade they settled for was more profitable for Buffalo.

“It is one of those things where I view it, ‘That’s our first-round pick,’” Beane said. “The way I’m viewing it with the draft capital that we moved to acquire him is that we moved up, let’s just say, four spots. We traded up there and we got him and we know the player. It’s just a more proven thing right now.”

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NFL.com says Bills have ‘much to think about’ with RBs

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.

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Potential Bills target Melvin Gordon to test free agency

Potential Buffalo Bills free agent target Melvin Gordon to test free agency.

The Buffalo Bills were previously connected to Chargers running back Melvin Gordon. At the 2019 NFL trade deadline, reports said the Bills had interested in adding the back.

Fast forward to this week and it appears, in a few weeks, Gordon will test the free agent market, Chargers Wire reports.

The 26-year-old former first-round pick had his name in trade speculation because he was looking for a new contract last season. He held out for four games but never got that new deal, so him hitting the market comes as no surprise.

Gordon is a two-time Pro Bowler, but with that contract dispute in mind, he won’t come cheap. What might help a prospective team that’s interest in signing him is Gordon’s struggles last season. He rushed for 3.8 yards per carry and a career-low 612 total rushing yards. He did find the end zone eight times though, and the Bills would like his pass-catching ability.

While the Bills do have Devin Singletary in their backfield already, Buffalo is unlikely to bring Frank Gore back and head coach Sean McDermott previously said this offseason he believes in a two-back system on offense. In addition, McDermott also praised TJ Yeldon a bit, in a surprising fashion, at the recent combine.

But the Bills could save $1.7 million against the cap by releasing Yeldon, money which could go into a Gordon contract. Finally, the NFL Draft is something to consider as well. The Bills have nine draft picks to use there.

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