Buffalo Bills first round pick Shaq Lawson could miss anywhere from half of the 2016 season to the whole season while recovering from shoulder surgery, ESPN’s Louis Riddick told WGR-550 this morning.
. @LRiddickESPN just said on @WGR550 he's hearing Shaq Lawson could miss at least 1/2 season "and maybe the whole season." However....
— Sal Capaccio (@SalSports) July 20, 2016
That news comes as a surprise to some because the original reports had Lawson only missing 4 to 6 weeks of the regular season. The Bills had hoped that Lawson would be a Day One starter at outside linebacker when the team drafted him No. 19 overall until he aggravated his shoulder injury in a passing rushing drill.
Following Riddick’s comments, WGR’s Sal Capaccio reported that Lawson will not be missing that amount of time.
“A league source familiar with Lawson’s rehab told me that although there is no specific timetable for the first-round pick’s return as of right now, they are clearly not expecting him to miss that much time, and even expressed surprise at Riddick's comments,” reported Capaccio.
The Bills likely will be relying on another Lawson – Manny Lawson – to step in at outside linebacker in Shaq Lawson’s absence.