Bills sign 13 players to reserve/future contracts

Full list:

(Update 1/24, 6:30 p.m.): The Bills have also signed QB Shane Buechele to a reserve/future contract:

Previous coverage: 

The Buffalo Bills had inked 11 players to reserve/future contracts earlier this week. Then on Tuesday, two more were added to the bunch.

A reserve/future contract guarantees that a player cannot be signed by another team. The deal goes into effect once the new league year begins and will count towards the next season’s salary cap and 90-man roster for the offseason and training camp.

Of the 13, 11 were on the team’s practice squad during the 2023 season. Two of them, wide receiver KJ Hamler and safety Kendall Williamson, were not.

Here’s the full list of the 13 players the Bills have signed to reserve/future deals:

Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Chargers: Team connections

Player who’ve played for both the #Bills and #Chargers:

The Buffalo Bills will visit the Los Angeles Chargers for a matchup on Saturday evening in Week 16.

It’s a brand new NFL weekend with plenty on the line for both teams. But for some on the Bills (8-6) and Chargers (5-9) there is a bit more at stake than others.

That’s because multiple players or coaches for both sides are going to be playing against their former teams. That can create a little bit of extra motivation for them heading into Saturday… as expected.

With that, here’s a quick list of connections the two teams have with one another ahead of the upcoming matchup at So-Fi Stadium:

Bills add Tre’ McKitty, Tre Norwood to practice squad

#Bills add Tre’ McKitty, Tre Norwood to practice squad:

The Buffalo Bills swapped out two players on their practice squad ahead of facing the Denver Broncos in Week 10.

The team announced on Tuesday that tight end Tre’ McKitty and defensive back Tre Norwood have joined the taxi squad.

In corresponding moves, defensive end Kameron Cline was placed on injured reserve and tight end Joel Wilson was released. The Bills did not provide further details on Cline’s injury.

McKitty was a third-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021. The 6-foot-4 target has appeared in 34 career games, however, he has only made 12 catches in his career.

McKitty made nine starts for the Chargers last season and was released on Oct. 31 and cleared waivers. In 2023, McKitty has only appeared in 66 totals snaps in six games.

Norwood was a seventh-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021. In 32 total game appearances, Norwood has defended four passes and notched one interception.

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Los Angeles Chargers waive former Georgia TE

The Los Angeles Chargers have waived a former Georgia Bulldogs tight end, who was a 2021 third round NFL draft pick

The Los Angeles Chargers waived former Georgia Bulldogs tight end Tre’ McKitty on Tuesday. Los Angeles drafted McKitty with a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

McKitty played in 28 games from 2021-2022 with the Chargers. Los Angeles moved on from McKitty after he played in six games of the 2023 NFL season. McKitty has 12 career catches for 117 yards in his NFL career.

Chargers Wire highlights what Los Angeles will do at tight end without the former Georgia tight end.

With McKitty gone, Gerald Everett, Donald Parham and Stone Smartt make up the tight end room. To fill the void, L.A. could call up Nick Vannett from the practice squad.

McKitty must look for a new NFL home after being waived. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero announced the Chargers’ decision.

McKitty played at Georgia in 2020 after transferring from Florida State, with which he played college football from 2017-2019.

Georgia TE Tre McKitty temporarily out following knee procedure

Georgia football TE Tre McKitty will be temporarily sidelined following a knee scoping procedure.

Georgia’s graduate transfer tight end Tre McKitty is expected to miss a few weeks following a knee scoping procedure he recently underwent.  McKitty’s minor procedure went successfully and there is no current timetable for his return, according to UGASports.com.

Head coach Kirby Smart broke the news to reporters that McKitty had to exit UGA’s scrimmage on Saturday after taking a hard hit.

“I’ve been really impressed with Tre McKitty. He’s tough, physical, he works, he blocks, he catches, he does a great job,” Smart told reporters on Saturday. “He got a little bit of a ding today, and ended up having to leave the scrimmage about halfway through.”

McKitty transferred to Georgia from Florida State where he caught 50 passes for 520 yards and a pair of touchdowns in three seasons with the Seminoles.

Brett Seither, Ryland Goede, John FitzPatrick and freshman Darnell Washington will be the tight ends competing for playing time and possibly the starting job.

Darnell [Washington] has been working his way into shape —  he was at one time 273 (pounds),” Smart said. “We felt like he needed to get down to 263 to be effective. He’s a big man.”

The Dawgs will be without Charlie Woerner, who made the San Francisco 49ers 53-man roster, as well as Eli Wolf who recently signed to the Baltimore Ravens practice squad.  Coach Smart commented on the team’s depth at the tight end position.

“Then we’ve got Goede and Brett back, and those guys took some reps. They’ve done a good job as well. Fitz has been around. We’ve got some good depth there at tight end. We’re just trying to figure out what each one’s skill set is as we endeavor in this offense and try to figure out the best way to use those guys.”