The Buffalo Bills are hosting wide receiver Kenny Stills on a free-agent visit on Wednesday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the news, and added that it appears likely that Stills does become a member of the Bills, using the word “optimism” to describe the ongoing situation:
More help could be on the way to Buffalo for the playoffs: Former Texans and Dolphins WR Kenny Stills is visiting the Bills, per source. Stills needs to pass through protocols, but optimism the deal gets done.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 30, 2020
Stills, who was a fifth-round pick of the Saints in 2013, is a familiar name to Buffalo as he went on to play for the Dolphins (2015-18) and then the Texans (2019-20), as he was traded to Houston prior to last season.
Stills, 28, failed to find a role with the Texans offense this season. He only played in just 24.9 percent of offensive snaps in 2020, even after DeAndre Hopkins was traded to the Cardinals. Stills has appeared in 10 games this year, but saw just 19 targets, catching 11 of them for 144 yards and one touchdown. He was cut on Nov. 27.
Stills’ potential addition could be bad news for another wideout on the Bills, Cole Beasley. While Isaiah McKenzie would’ve been the defacto No. 2 to Beasley’s role, Buffalo (12-3) evidently wanted someone better. Beasley and Stills both have experience playing out of the slot.
On Tuesday, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said that Beasley is considered to have a “week-to-week” injury after suffering a leg issue late in his team’s 38-9 win vs. the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football. Naturally if Stills signs, that likely means that Beasley would be estimated to miss playing time in the postseason as well. It was already assumed that Beasley would not play in Buffalo’s season finale on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
Along with having experience in the slot, Stills has speed to burn, too. He recorded a 4.38 40-yard dash time during his scouting combine.
Furthermore, wide receiver John Brown landed on Buffalo’s Reserve/COVID-19 list just ahead of Buffalo’s kickoff vs. the Pats earlier this week. However, that was due to a “close-contact protocol.” Brown himself did not contract COVID-19, so it’s expected he’ll be go to go by Week 17, at this point.
If Stills does sign with the Bills, it remains to be seen if he could play in Week 17 against the Dolphins. He has to pass COVID-19 protocols over the course of six days to be able to sign with the Bills.
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