When the Buffalo Bills claimed Shawne Merriman off waivers on November 3, many believed it was a win-win situation. Turns out they were wrong. The team officially placed the linebacker on injured reserve today, ending his season.
Merriman practiced for the Bills for all of 15 minutes before re-injuring his Achilles tendon. The team must now pay Merriman's $1.73 million salary for this season while getting only a few minutes of physical work from the former Charger.
Also added to IR was linebacker Keith Ellison. Ellison was dealing with a knee injury and did not practice all week. He, like Merriman, is in the final year of his contract. It's possible that Ellison has played his final play in a Bills uniform.
"We felt it was still going to be some time before Shawne and Keith were healthy enough to return to the field and we certainly were not going to have them return to action until they were physically ready to do so," said Bills GM Buddy Nix. "Knowing that we needed the roster spots, we felt this was the best move for our team and it’s also best for both players. The most important thing at this point is for them to get healthy and this gives them that opportunity."
To fill the two roster spots, the team promoted WR Naaman Roosevelt and LB Thomas Williams from the practice squad.
Roosevelt signed with the team as an undrafted free agent this spring. Williams signed with the club in October after being released by New England.
H/T to silverstreak3k for first posting first.