The Buffalo Bills made two moves today to fill open spots on the roster. A day after placing tackle Erik Pears and cornerback Terrence McGee on Injured Reservce, the team signed CB Crezdon Butler and OT Thomas Welch to replace them.
Butler has appeared in six NFL games since being a 5th round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 NFL Draft. He was claimed by the Arizona Cardinals in September of 2011 but quickly ended up on Injured Reserve. He was waived during final cuts in 2012 and claimed by the Washington Redskins who eventually released him. After re-signing as a member of the Cardinals practice squad, he now joins the Bills. He was a teammate of running back C.J. Spiller's at Clemson.
Welch has followed a similar career path since being a seventh round pick of the New England Patriots in 2010. He played tight end at Vandy but was a guard for the Patriots before being cut and signed by the Minnesota Vikings. He re-signed with the Patriots during the 2011 offseason, making the practice squad, and see-sawed onto and off of the active roster twice as an injury replacement. He was plucked off the taxi squad by the Rams in October of 2011 and then by the Eagles when he was waved in St. Louis. He has started one game in his NFL career and was not on an NFL roster.
This brings the total roster to 53 players heading into their match-up against the New England Patriots this Sunday. If either new player sees the field on Sunday, the Bills will be in serious trouble. Butler has the best chance as the Bills are down to just four healthy cornerbacks with Aaron Williams' knee injury.