Tag: Tyler Matakevich

Full list of Bills players who will be free agents this offseason

Who will stay and who will go?

As another season of Buffalo Bills football has come to an end, so have another series of contracts that have been signed.

Whether it be grizzled veterans or players seeing the end of their rookie contracts, there are plenty of faces who will not long be under contract in Buffalo in March when free agency opens.

The Bills have plenty of time until then to sign players to extensions, but it’s never so cut-and-dry. According to Over The Cap, Buffalo is estimated to be $49 million over the 2024 NFL salary cap.

Moves must be made and general manager Brandon Beane will earn his own salary with the decisions ahead.

But what you’re here for: The full list of Bills free agents following the 2023 season is below:

Buffalo Bills vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Team connections

A few between the two teams:

The Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers will play against each other and the highest of stakes will be attached to the game: Win or go home.

The Bills (11-6) and Steelers (10-7) will do battle during the upcoming NFL Wild-Card round. However, the game will have a little bit more meaning attached to it for a few players in particular.

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 Sunday… as expected.

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

Why Bills’ Dawson Knox, Tyler Matakevich did not play vs. Steelers

Why #Bills’ Dawson Knox, Tyler Matakevich did not play vs. #Steelers:

The Buffalo Bills were without two surprise players against the Pittsburgh Steelers: Tight end Dawson Knox and linebacker Tyler Matakevich.

It sounds as if the Bills were just simply playing the precautionary card with both.

The team announced the Knox sat out due to a finger injury. However, he is only considered day-to-day.

In terms of Matakevich, he was only activated from the PUP (physically unable to perform) list this past week. He came to training camp with a calf injury which is likely the reason why he sat out.

In addition, ESPN provided extra context: Both were spotted taking part in pregame warmups. That indicates a good sign that both are not dealing with long-term issues.

Knox is set to feature in a tight-end duo with first-round rookie Dalton Kincaid in 2023. It’s expected that Matakevich will continue as Buffalo’s top special teamer. He has played in the most special teams snaps for the Bills over the past three seasons, respectively.

In addition to Buffalo missing those two, other notable names that did not play include running back Damien Harris (knee) and linebacker Terrel Bernard (hamstring). Both have been dealing with their respective injuries since last week.

Bills Wire will continue to provide injury updates throughout the 2023 season.

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Bills activate LB Tyler Matakevich from PUP list

#Bills activate LB Tyler Matakevich from PUP list:

The Buffalo Bills have their top special teamer back in the fold.

The team announced on Tuesday that linebacker Tyler Matakevich has been activated from the PUP (physically unable to perform) list.

Matakevich had been on the designation since the start of training camp due to a calf injury.

This offseason, the 30-year-old re-signed in Buffalo via a one-year deal. Matakevich originally joined the Bills as a free agent in 2020.

While a linebacker, special teams is where Matakevich makes his living. His 78.78 percent of special teams snaps on Buffalo’s unit in 2022 led the team.

Matakevich has led the Bills in special teams snaps every season he’s been in Buffalo.

With Matakevich coming off the injury designation, Von Miller (kne) is the lone player left on the Bills’ PUP list.

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Bills place three players on PUP list at start of training camp

#Bills place three players on PUP list at start of training camp:

The Buffalo Bills added three players to the team’s active/PUP list at the start of 2023 training camp.

Pass rusher Von Miller, special teamer Tyler Matakevich and defensive lineman Jordan Phillips were all placed on the injury designation.

Miller and Phillips had injuries that were known. Miller is still recovering from his 2022 ACL injury while Phillips continues to battle a shoulder issue. Phillips had surgery on his shoulder following the end of the 2022 season.

Matakevich’s update is new and said to be a calf injury.

When a player is placed on the PUP list at the start of training camp, he counts against the team’s 90-man roster and can participate in meetings but is not allowed to practice. They can be removed at any time from the designation.

In addition to the PUP (physically unable to perform) updates, the Bills confirmed others transactions that were known or anticipated to happen.

The team placed running back Nyheim Hines on the Reserve/NFI (non-football injury) list after his season came to an end just prior to training camp due to a knee injury.

The Bills also confirmed the signings of running back Darrynton Evans and tight end Jace Sternberger. The pair both signed one-year deals.

Follow Bills Wire throughout training camp for the latest updates.

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Madden 24 ratings for every Buffalo Bills linebacker

Matt Milano much higher rated:

EA Sports is going position-by-position and releasing player ratings for their upcoming NFL video game, Madden 24.

This year’s game will feature Bills quarterback Josh Allen on the cover and we now know how the game rates linebackers in the NFL.

Here are the Madden 24 ratings for every Bills linebacker set to feature in the game:

Who are locks to make the Bills’ 53-man roster on defense?

Who are locks to make the #Bills’ 53-man roster on defense?

The Buffalo Bills are gearing up for the start of 2023 training camp. Players are going to be fighting for both playing time and roster spots.

But if we’re being honest, some of those positions on the team are already sorted out.

Here is every player on the Bills roster that is already a roster lock to make the team on defense:

List of Bills players heading into final year of their contract in 2023

List of #Bills players heading into final year of their contract in 2023 (via @TejasVemparala):

The 2023 NFL season has a sense of continued hope and optimism attached to the Buffalo Bills, much like the last couple of years. Could they go all the way? What happens if they don’t?

The desire will continue in Buffalo, but some players could be playing their final year at Highmark Stadium once the season gets rolling.

This leads to a list of players that the team needs to consider signing extensions with based on how the season ends.

Here’s all Bills players heading into the final year of their contract in 2023 (figures via Over The Cap):

31 Bills players slated to become free agents in 2024

Ahead of the NFL draft, knowing who is entering the final year of their contract is important. Here’s who on the #Bills will be a free agent in 2024:

The 2023 NFL draft is right around the corner. The Buffalo Bills will add new players in positions of need throughout the event.

But the Bills will be looking well beyond just next season. All needs aren’t considered immediate and we’ve seen this before from the Bills.

At last year’s draft, Buffalo selected Georgia running back James Cook with a second-round pick. As talented as Cook is in his own right, Devin Singletary played a part.

The Bills knew Singletary was entering the final year of his contract and understood it might be difficult to re-sign him… and now he’s a member of the Houston Texans.

In terms of the upcoming draft, there are other players currently on the Bills that could fall into the same realm.

Here’s the full list of the team’s 31 upcoming free agents after next season: