The Buffalo Bills today made a move to shore up their injury-depleted offensive line by signing free agent offensive lineman Reggie Wells. To make room for Wells they placed Colin Brown on season-ending Injured Reserve.
Wells has started 96 games in the NFL, most of them coming with the Bills' next opponent - the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals drafted him in 2003 and he started every game he was healthy from 2004 through 2009. His primary position was left guard but he did some spot duty filling in at right tackle. Since being traded to Philadelphia prior to the 2010 season, he has started just six games for the Eagles and Carolina Panthers. He signed with the Green Bay Packers in early August and the San Diego Chargers in September but wasn't on the roster for a single game with either club.
This is Wells' second time being linked to the Buffalo Bills. In 2006, Marv Levy signed the restricted free agent to a five-year, $18 million offer sheet only to have the Cardinals match.
It's hard not to feel bad for Brown. He was making just his second career NFL start in place of the injured Chad Rinehart who was himself in place of the injured Kraig Urbik. An injured hamstring early in the contest ends his season. He will be a free agent at the end of the season.
Rinehart could be back this Sunday and the addition of Wells gives them a steadying hand in the midst of some hectic turnover on the interior of the offensive line. Left tackle Cordy Glenn and Urbik did not make the trip to Arizona.