The Buffalo Bills have given up an alarming number of rushing yards over the last three weeks so, as a result, they signed defensive tackle Corey Liuget on Tuesday to try and get the issue under control. Liuget was released by the Oakland Raiders at the end of October. He signed there this offseason after his option wasn’t picked up by the Los Angeles Chargers, who gave him a five-year, $58.5 million extension in 2015 after making him a first-round pick in 2011.
He had solid 16-game seasons in 2015 and 2016 but missed four games in 2017 and his 2018 season ended on injured reserve after he tore his quad in November. He began the season on the suspended list with a PED violation, too. He played in just three games this year for the Raiders with just a handful of stats after returning from the injury.
The 29-year-old is hoping to return to the form he had back in San Diego. The 6-2, 300-lb defensive lineman appeared in 108 games with 103 starts for the Chargers. Prior to last season, he had missed just ten games in his career. He averaged 40 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and 4.0 sacks per season.
It’s a solid in-season signing for the Bills’ run defense, who allowed 101 yards to Adrian Peterson in the first half this past Sunday and 218 yards to the Philadelphia Eagles the week before. Buffalo made a move last week, signing former Miami Dolphins DT Vincent Taylor off their own practice squad and releasing Kyle Peko. Now they’ve also added Liuget since the season-ending injury to Harrison Phillips in the third game of the season.
To make room on the roster, Buffalo placed LB Maurice Alexander on injured reserve. In seven games, Alexander tallied eight tackles playing mostly special teams. He injured his knee ten days ago against the Philadelphia Eagles.