Newly-signed Buffalo Bills tight end Tyler Kroft suffered a broken foot on the first day of Organized Team Activities, and is undergoing surgery on Tuesday to treat the injury. This is the same foot Kroft broke last season with the Cincinnati Bengals.
For Kroft, the recovery timetable is 3-4 months according to NFL Network’s Ian Rappoport. With the regular season starting in 3.5 months, the Bills shouldn’t be counting on the tight end to be ready for the season opener. The injury opens the door for free agent Lee Smith, draft picks Dawson Knox and Tommy Sweeney, and holdover Jason Croom to get more snaps during the offseason.
Per head coach Sean McDermott, Kroft isn’t the only player on the medical list during Buffalo’s offseason program. Free-agent signings Mitch Morse and Cole Beasley both underwent core muscle surgery a few weeks back, and will be out of practice for an undetermined amount of time.
“Core muscle” can mean a few different things, according to Kyle Trimble of Banged Up Bills. If it’s sports hernia surgery, that could put both of them out of commission for 3 months from the surgery date, but they probably had surgery weeks ago after signing as free agents. UPDATE: Chris Brown confirmed this on One Bills Live, which is good news for their timetable.
Russell Bodine, who underwent shoulder surgery at the beginning of the offseason, is still unable to practice as he rehabs that injury. That leaves Spencer Long as the de facto starting center to begin OTAs.
Frank Gore, who has a foot/ankle injury, won’t be practicing at Tuesday’s session. Rafael Bush and Taron Johnson will be limited, non-contact participants in practice. Undrafted rookie receiver David Sills V, who strained his hamstring during rookie minicamp, will be a limited participant.
The injury news isn’t all bad, though. Linebacker Matt Milano, who suffered a broken fibula near the end of the 2018 season, is fully recovered from that injury. He’ll be full-go during practice.