Buffalo Bills release Brad Smith from injured reserve

The Buffalo Bills placed wide receiver Brad Smith on injured reserve prior to final cutdowns this August. It turns out the final preseason game was the last time we would see Smith in a Bills uniform, as the team reached an injury settlement with the veteran and released him from injured reserve on Friday.

Generally speaking, when a player goes on injured reserve he is guaranteed his salary for the season. An injury settlement can be negotiated between the two sides. In this case, Smith is likely healthy again and would like to try his luck catching on with a team in 2013. He likely agreed to a slightly smaller salary for the remainder of the season to secure his release. He had one non-guaranteed year remaining on the contract he signed in 2011.

Smith was signed as a jack-of-all-trades for Chan Gailey's offense coming out of the lockout-shortened offseason of 2011. He served as a Wildcat quarterback and reserve receiver while also contributing heavily on special teams, carving out a role despite not standing out on offense. He finishes his Bills career with five combined receiving and rushing  touchdowns, 595 yards from scrimmage, and two interceptions on two passing attempts in addition to a kickoff return score.

Buffalo will move on with their stable of younger receivers, and the 29-year-old is free to sign with any team in the NFL except the Bills. If Buffalo wants him back, they'll need to wait until next offseason, per league rules.