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The Buffalo Bills were awarded linebacker IK Enemkpali today off waivers, according to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. You may remember Enemkpali from as far back as yesterday, when the little-known, second-year linebacker was released by the New York Jets after sucker-punching quarterback Geno Smith in the locker room, breaking his jaw in two places and putting him on the injured list for 6-10 weeks.
New #Bills LB IK Enemkpali is on his way to Buffalo as we speak. He’s given the organization his side of the story.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 12, 2015
Enemkpali was with the Jets in 2014 when current Bills coach Rex Ryan helmed the squad and was involved in making him a sixth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech. The 6'1", 261-pound edge rusher appeared in six games as a rookie for Ryan, logging two tackles on the season. He will compete with the likes of Michael Buchanan, Randell Johnson, and a quartet of undrafted rookies in Cedric Reed, Andrew Hudson, B.J. Larsen, and Erik Williams for a spot on the Bills' 53-man roster.
It's extremely possible that Enemkpali will be disciplined by the league for the Smith altercation, and could therefore begin the season on an exempt list while the league investigates him for a violation of the personal conduct policy.