Bills Trade Rumors: BUF 'Expected' to Receive Calls from Teams Seeking DL Additions
Oct 12, 2021
KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 10: Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes (55) raises his hands to celebrate after the Bills recovered a fumble late in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs on Oct 10, 2021 at GEHA Filed at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Buffalo Bills are reportedly expected to receive calls from teams interested in adding defensive line depth ahead of the Nov. 2 trade deadline.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported one of Buffalo's veteran edge-rushers could be on the trade block, though it does not appear any substantive talks have taken place.
Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison and Efe Obada are among the names who could find themselves in rumors. Hughes seems like the least likely of the three to move given the fact that he remains an integral part of the Bills defensive line rotation—even if his production isn't up to his prime levels.
Addison is making $4.1 million for the 2021 season and has only one sack through the first five games. The 34-year-old might be the likeliest name to move, though teams could balk at his price tag.
Buffalo has young players in Greg Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa and Boogie Basham, who make the veterans more expendable.
That said, having a consistent rotation of fresh edge-rushers is a valuable commodity. The 4-1 Bills view themselves as Super Bowl contenders, and it would be surprising to see them make any move that hurts them for 2021.
Teams will undoubtedly be interested in taking some of that depth off the Bills' hands, but expect the price to be high.
Zach Ertz Trade Rumors: Execs See Bills, Colts as Landing Spots for Eagles TE
Oct 12, 2021
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 10: Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (86) looks on during the game between the Carolina Panthers and the Philadelphia Eagles on October 10, 2021 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
If the Philadelphia Eagles decide to move on from Zach Ertz before the Nov. 2 trade deadline, there are at least two teams that could have interest in the veteran tight end.
Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, executives around the NFL believe the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts are potential landing spots if Ertz is moved.
Ertz's name has come up in trade speculation often for more than one year.
Before the Eagles placed Ertz on short-term injured reserve last October with an ankle injury, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer noted the team was receiving calls about the three-time Pro Bowler.
After nothing came of those discussions, Ertz was frequently discussed during the offseason and throughout training camp this year.
Fowler reported in June that at least three clubs called the Eagles about the 30-year-old, but a move seemed difficult because Philadelphia made it clear it wouldn't make a deal just to give Ertz away.
With the Eagles off to a 2-3 start this season and Ertz in the final guaranteed year of his contract, exploring trade options makes sense for the organization.
The Colts would seem like a logical landing spot. Head coach Frank Reich was Philadelphia's offensive coordinator for two seasons from 2016-17. Ertz had 152 receptions, 1,640 yards and 12 touchdowns when Reich was running the Eagles offense.
The Bills could use additional help at tight end. Dawson Knox had a breakout game on Sunday with 117 yards and one touchdown on just three receptions. He didn't have one game with more than 50 receiving yards in the first four weeks of the season.
Ertz is owed $8.5 million this season with two void years on his contract for 2022 and 2023. He ranks fourth on the Eagles with 160 receiving yards on 14 receptions through five games.
Micah Hyde Credits Mitchell Trubisky for Helping Bills Prep for Mahomes, Chiefs
Oct 11, 2021
Buffalo Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky scrambles during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Josh Allen starred for the Buffalo Bills in Sunday's 38-20 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, but backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky also played a hand in the victory.
Bills cornerback Micah Hyde gave a shoutout to Trubisky's work in practice leading up to the Week 5 game:
"We had a really good look this week from Mitchell Trubisky."
Micah Hyde says Trubisky helped the Bills' defense this week by imitating Patrick Mahomes in practice. pic.twitter.com/62UYbAoo9h
"That dude was dropping back and just running around," Hyde said, "and it was on us to just plaster receivers in practice."
The prep work paid off as the Bills kept Mahomes in check. The quarterback needed 54 pass attempts to reach 272 yards while he threw two interceptions, including one that Hyde ran back for a touchdown:
It resulted in the biggest regular-season loss the Chiefs have experienced with Mahomes as a starter.
Running the scout team likely isn't where Trubisky hoped to be at this point as the No. 2 pick in the 2017 draft—eight spots ahead of Mahomes.
The 27-year-old has seen limited regular-season action this season, totaling 27 rushing yards and a touchdown to go with nine passing yards on two attempts. He has appeared in three games, all at the end of blowouts.
Trubisky is still proving his value with the Bills after signing a one-year deal in the offseason. The team is a legitimate Super Bowl contender after a 4-1 start to the year, a significant change for Trubisky after going 8-8 the past two years with the Chicago Bears.
If anything happens to Allen, Trubisky should also have the full trust of the squad when he steps into the huddle.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 10: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills is tackled by Tyrann Mathieu #32 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of a game at Arrowhead Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The Kansas City Chiefs defense again fell short Sunday night, allowing Josh Allen to account for 374 total yards and four touchdowns in what safety Tyrann Mathieu called an "embarrassing" 38-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
"Honestly, I think we're just beating ourselves," Mathieu told reporters. "If you look back at it, the Ravens game—miscommunication, blown coverages. The Chargers game, kind of the same thing. And tonight. I think most of the explosive plays were guys running wide-open down the field. Obviously, we don't practice that. Our coaches don't teach that. Just gotta find a way to dig deep."
The Chiefs' loss to the Bills dropped them to 2-3 on the season, already surpassing their number of losses during the 2020 campaign. Patrick Mahomes has not lost more than four games in a season as a starter since taking over for Alex Smith in 2018.
The Kansas City defense has been the main issue, currently sitting 31st in yards allowed (437.4 per game) and last in points allowed (32.6 per game). Mathieu has recorded 20 tackles and two interceptions as one of the defense's few bright spots.
"They're embarrassed," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "We didn't play well. We all are. You surely don't want to play that way any time, let alone at home. We have to do better, from the coaches on down to the players. We have to do better."
Kansas City is headed into a three-game stretch of winnable contests, with road trips to Washington and Tennessee preceding a home clash with the New York Giants. The pair of NFC East teams will likely be overmatched against the Chiefs, while the Titans have struggled with injuries and their own defensive woes in their 3-2 start.
Josh Allen, Bills Dominate Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs 38-20 in Battle of AFC Contenders
Oct 11, 2021
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 10: Dawson Knox #88 of the Buffalo Bills congrautlates Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills after a touchdown during the first half of a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The two-time reigning AFC champions might be in trouble.
The Kansas City Chiefs slipped to 2-3 following a 38-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
For the Bills, the result represents a measure of revenge after losing to Kansas City in last year's AFC title game.
Buffalo took a 24-13 lead into halftime, and the course of the game didn't change much following a lengthy weather delay prior to the third quarter. Micah Hyde added to the Bills' lead with a pick-six with 7:20 left in the quarter.
The Chiefs fought back with a one-yard touchdown reception for Travis Kelce at the 13:44 mark of the fourth quarter. The home crowd was getting more vocal as well until Josh Allen guided the Bills on a 12-play 85-yard drive that culminated in a nine-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders.
Notable Performers
Josh Allen, QB, Bills: 15-of-26, 315 yards, three touchdowns; 11 carries, 59 yards, one touchdown
Stefon Diggs, WR, Bills: two receptions, 69 yards
Dawson Knox, TE, Bills: three receptions, 117 yards, one touchdown
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs: 33-of-54, 272 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions; eight carries, 61 yards
Mecole Hardman, WR, Chiefs: nine receptions, 76 yards
Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs: six receptions, 57 yards, one touchdown
Allen Adapts to Mother Nature
Through the first half, Allen was 7-of-14 for 260 yards. He had a lot of success targeting the Chiefs secondary down the field.
Josh Allen & Dawson Knox (53-yard TD)
Allen – 4/4, 172 yards & 2 TD on deep passes so far tonight – is the first player in the NGS era with a 100% comp pct & 150+ passing yards on deep pass attempts in a single half (i.e. 20+ air yards). #StatThat | Powered by @awscloudpic.twitter.com/8PiijBDbsK
Steady rainfall in Kansas City made replicating that success in the second half almost impossible, so Allen and Buffalo's offense changed their plan of attack.
On the pivotal fourth-quarter drive, the 2020 Pro Bowler showed off his wheels by leaping over Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed and scrambling for a first down on 3rd-and-4.
A few plays later, the 25-year-old found some space and ran for 12 yards to get the Bills into the red zone. In general, he showed the poise and composure you'd expect from a starting quarterback on a franchise with championship aspirations.
This was also a statement performance from Buffalo's defense. The Chiefs' 392 total yards are somewhat deceiving because their 5.0 yards per play were well below their season average (6.9).
Head coach Sean McDermott devised a great game plan to slow down Patrick Mahomes.
The Bills did not blitz Patrick Mahomes on any of his 25 dropbacks in the first half.
The only other game in the NGS era where a defense did not blitz a single time?
The Bills in Week 6 of last season, also against the Chiefs (0 blitzes on 27 dropbacks).#BUFvsKC | #BillsMafia
The Chiefs defense isn't good enough to get this team back to the Super Bowl.
That much seemed clear through four games as Kansas City allowed an average of 437.8 yards and 31.3 points, and nothing changed Sunday night. A picture is indeed worth a thousand words sometimes.
Four of the Bills' first five drives ended in a score, which put the onus on the Chiefs offense to keep pace. Allen was torching the secondary thanks to blown coverages and glaring mismatches.
Mahomes was well below his best, but it seems fair to wonder how much of that was down to a level of tacit pressure to come away from every offensive drive with points on the board.
I’m curious how this second half plays out for the Chiefs offense. I get a sense Mahomes is pressing a bit because he knows his defense is so bad if they don’t score every drive, it’s going to leave them behind.
In different circumstances, this might be one of those games head coach Andy Reid and his staff throw in the trash. The rainy conditions made life difficult for both teams, and the occasional bad day at the office happens, even for a Super Bowl contender.
A team is only as strong as its weakest link, though, and the state of Kansas City's defense is pretty rough.
What's Next?
The Chiefs hit the road to play the Washington Football Team on Oct. 17, while the Bills will prepare for a Monday Night Football clash with the Tennessee Titans.
Buffalo Bills cornerback Taron Johnson (24) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
The Buffalo Bills announced Saturday they've signed cornerback Taron Johnson to a three-year contract
extension through the 2024 NFL season.
Johnson, a 2018 fourth-round pick out
of Weber State, has recorded 15 total tackles, five passes defended,
one sack and one forced fumble through three appearances in 2021.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported terms of the deal:
The #Bills are giving nickel CB Taron Johnson a 3-year deal worth $24M that includes roughly $14M guaranteed, source said. A really nice payday for the homegrown player. https://t.co/7lraAkjOqQ
Johnson has quietly emerged as a solid
nickel corner for the Bills. He's received a 72.2 overall grade from
Pro Football Focus for the early stages of the current campaign.
His most memorable play came in last
season's playoffs. With the Bills leading the Baltimore Ravens by seven, he picked off a Lamar Jackson pass at the Bills goal line and returned it 101 yards to give Buffalo a 17-3 lead it would hold for the remainder of the game.
The 25-year-old California native has
tallied 201 tackles, 20 passes defended, four sacks, four forced
fumbles, two interceptions and a touchdown across 42 career
regular-season appearances.
With the extension, Johnson joins
fellow corner Tre'Davious White and safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan
Poyer as key members of the Buffalo secondary under contract through
at least next season. Levi Wallace, the team's other starting
cornerback, is a potential free agent but has been pushed for playing
time by second-year corner Dane Jackson.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott praised
Johnson on WGR's Extra Point Show ahead of the team's Week 3 game
against the Washington Football Team:
It's fun to watch Taron. He's
playing at a high level. He fills a role for us that not many can do.
I'm really proud of the way he's improved and how he's playing. It's
really fun to watch those guys (the defensive backs) because of...
the relationships they've formed off the field and the relationships
they have on the field. Watching them play is a lot of fun.
The Buffalo secondary faces its
toughest test of the season Sunday night when it visits Arrowhead
Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes
torched the Bills in two meetings last year, one in the regular season
and another in the AFC Championship Game. He combined to complete 50
of his 64 passes (78.1 percent) for 550 yards with five touchdowns
and no interceptions in a pair of Chiefs wins.
Buffalo's defense must provide more
resistance Sunday to give quarterback Josh Allen and the offense a
chance to outscore Mahomes and Co.
Fantasy Football Week 4: Waiver-Wire TEs to Consider After Rob Gronkowski's Injury
Oct 2, 2021
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski walks on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Fantasy managers got bad news Saturday morning, as Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski reportedly will not play in Week 4 against the New England Patriots.
The late scratch might leave some owners scrambling to find a replacement, so we found four tight ends who are rostered in less than 50 percent of fantasy leagues, according to Fantasy Pros, who would be good additions.
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Dawson Knox is emerging as a favorite red-zone target of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. The third-year player has scored in each of the last two weeks, tying for the team lead with two receiving touchdowns.
Knox has shown steady hands this season, as he's made 10 catches on 12 targets through three games. He ranks fourth on the team with 107 receiving yards.
Knox and the Bills have a soft matchup this week against the Houston Texans, who are giving up 385.7 yards per game. Knox will likely build on his strong start to the season in Week 4.
Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz (86) scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. Dallas won 41-21. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Dalton Schultz is on the upswing, coming off a huge performance in Week 3 with six receptions for 80 yards and two touchdowns against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Schultz, who ranks third on the Dallas Cowboys in receptions (14), targets (15) and receiving yards (143), has separated himself on the depth chart from Blake Jarwin. Schultz played 68.4 percent of the snaps Monday, while Jarwin played 56.6 percent, per Pro Football Reference.
The Cowboys face a tough test in Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers, so look for Schultz to be a safety blanket for quarterback Dak Prescott.
Jared Cook, Los Angeles Chargers (48.2 percent rostered)
Los Angeles, CA - September 19: Los Angeles Chargers tight end Jared Cook runs the ball past Dallas Cowboys safety Jayron Kearse at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, CA. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Jared Cook has been a solid addition to the Los Angeles Chargers passing attack. In his first year with the team, the 13-year veteran has racked up 10 catches for 111 yards through three games.
While Cook has yet to reach the end zone, he ranks third on the team with 16 targets. He's developed a chemistry with second-year quarterback Justin Herbert, who ranks fifth in the NFL with 956 passing yards.
Herbert likes to spread the ball around, as six different players had a reception in last week's win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Cook will be playing a revenge game Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, whom he played for in 2017 and 2018. He will likely have ample opportunities against his former team.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 26: Tyler Conklin #83 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball for a first down as he tries to avoid a tackle by Jamal Adams #33 of the Seattle Seahawks in the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 26, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
Tyler Conklin has established himself as TE1 for the Minnesota Vikings after Irv Smith Jr. underwent knee surgery.
Conklin finished with seven catches for 70 yards and a touchdown in Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks. Through three games, he has hauled in 13 of 16 targets for 126 yards, which ranks fourth on the team.
The Vikings face a tough matchup in Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns, who rank third in the NFL in total defense (248.7 yards allowed per game). With quarterback Kirk Cousins off to a strong start, consider Conklin a streaming option going forward.
The Buffalo Bills ' wide receiver depth chart is one of the toughest positional units to gain ground in across the NFL ...
Report: Bills Unlikely to Leave Buffalo If Team Doesn't Get Funding for New Stadium
Sep 14, 2021
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: A general view of Highmark Stadium prior to a game between the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 12, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
Pegula Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Buffalo Bills, has been angling for public funding to build a new stadium for the defending AFC East champions.
They've done so to the point where a company spokesperson said that Buffalo and the state of New York were "going to have to decide if they want a team."
However, Josh Kosman of the New York Post reported that any public threats to move the team likely won't come to fruition:
But a source who knows the family and has spoken to them in recent weeks tells The Post that the threats are just that — idle threats: The Pegula family isn't likely to move the Bills, even if they don't get state or local funding to help build a new 60,000-seat stadium, the source said.
"The Pegulas have made a proposal," PSE spokesperson Jim Wilkinson said in mid-August, per Marlee Tuskes of Buffalo's WIVB Channel 4.
"They would like to build it right there [in Orchard Park], and we need to hear back. You can't really do plans and designs on things until you have a deal, and right now the City of Buffalo and the state are going to have to decide if they want a team."
Pegula Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the Buffalo Sabres, is seeking $1.5 billion in public funds, per Tom Precious of the Buffalo News:
A new stadium – that multiple sources say is expected to be built in Orchard Park adjacent to the team's existing facility so that there would be no need to temporarily relocate to another city during a multiple-year construction effort – would cost at least $1.1 billion, with the remaining several hundred million dollars of the requested package earmarked for renovations at the Sabres' KeyBank Center.
Precious noted that the team hadn't made any overt threats to move but that other cities would be happy to pay large amounts to take on an NFL franchise.
Regarding that, ESPN's Seth Wickersham reported that Austin, Texas, was one of those cities:
An ownership source tells me that Austin is a possible destination—or threat—as one of the “other cities elsewhere that desire an NFL franchise and would pay handsomely for it.” https://t.co/zMf1oChO8K
However, Claire Partain of Austonia reported in early September that "the move is looking more unlikely than ever a month after the rumors first began."
The Bills have been in Buffalo for their entire existence after starting as an AFL franchise in 1960. They played at War Memorial Stadium until 1972 before moving to what is currently known as Highmark Stadium in 1973. The stadium underwent renovations in 1998 and 2013.
Leaving Buffalo would seem impossible for a region that loves its NFL team. The famed Bills Mafia is arguably the most passionate and ardent fanbase in the NFL, and it has supported its team over the years despite the team missing the playoffs for 17 straight seasons.
The Bills' fortunes have turned around, however, with the 2020 team going 13-3 and reaching the AFC Championship for the first time since 1993.
Bills to Require Proof of Vaccination for Fans 12 and Older at Home Games
Sep 14, 2021
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: Fans of the Buffalo Bills gesture during a flyover prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on September 12, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
The Buffalo Bills announced Tuesday all fans 12 years of age or older will have to show proof of at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to attend home games "in compliance with the Erie County Department of Health's directive."
Additionally, beginning on Oct. 31, a full dosage of the vaccine will be required for admittance. Per that press release, "Guests are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson's vaccine."
The policy will be put into place starting Sept. 26.
The Bills noted fans will have to provide either a physical vaccination card, an NYS Excelsior Pass, a Clear Digital Vaccine Card or "government digital vaccine proof from outside NYS."
Photos of a physical vaccine card or COVID-19 negative test results will not be accepted as valid forms of entry.
Fans who are 12 or younger will need to wear masks while in the stadium.
The Bills are not alone in their new policy. The Las Vegas Raiders required all fans in attendance for their home-opener win over the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night to be fully vaccinated.
The Seattle Seahawks also require proof of vaccination, while the New Orleans Saints will require either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of game time when they return to the Caesars Superdome.
A number of college football programs have also put into place either vaccine requirements or proof of negative tests to enter their stadiums.
