The Buffalo Bills are bringing back a first round pick from the Rex Ryan days.
The Buffalo Bills have re-signed a former first-round draft pick.
After coming in for a workout on Monday, the Bills have officially signed defensive end (DE) Shaq Lawson to the practice squad. To make room, they released DE Andre Jones Jr. from the team.
This is Lawson's third stint with the Bills after being selecting with the 19th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
He spent his first four years in Buffalo, playing in 50 of a possible 64 games. During that team he had 16.5 sacks, 108 total tackles, 38 quarterback hits, and 25 tackles for loss. After the 2019 season, Lawson spent a year with Miami in 2020 followed by a year with the New York Jets.
In 2022, however, the former Clemson Tiger re-signed with the Bills, playing the next two years in Western New York. In his second run, he was more of a utility player for the team. He played in 31 games---starting just seven of them---and had 4.5 sacks and 44 total tackles.
He signed with the Carolina Panthers practice squad last year, appearing in one game before being released.
Why Bring Back Lawson?
Lawson's return continues a trend for the Bills of bringing back former players to the practice squad. They've done it with players like Jordan Phillips, Jordan Poyer, and Gabe Davis this year as work to add depth to the roster.
With Lawson thought, it's about making sure there's depth on the defensive line. Buffalo has been decimated by injuries on defense all season, and the line seems to be one of the most hit. With Lawson in the fold, it gives them another veteran presence in case the injuries continue.
In terms of "next man up", it's likely to be Morgan Fox getting the elevation to the gameday roster. But Lawson being there can put the staff at ease while also giving young players on the line another veteran to talk to as the start their pro careers.