Injury Analysis: Buffalo Bills OL Garrett McGhin

Newly signed Buffalo Bills OL Garrett McGhin continues to show the homework the front office does on each and every prospect. General manager Brandon Beane has stated in past seasons that they do their analysis on all prospects knowing that the player may not be available at the time, but could come back around later. This is simply another example of the front office understanding what’s out there.

Below is McGhin’s known injury history.

East Carolina:

Appeared in 48 games over four seasons during his time at East Carolina. He did suffer an injury during his senior season but did not miss any time. I was unable to find any specifics on the injury but it did not deter NFL teams from grabbing him as a UDFA following his senior season.

2019 Season

Signed by the Indianapolis Colts to a rookie minicamp and also received a minicamp invite for the Bills. He managed to stick with Buffalo following the 2019 NFL Draft and made it through training camp before a right ankle injury ended his tenure with the Bills in a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.

He suffered a right ankle injury as the result of a Panthers defensive player falling on the back of his leg. This required a cart off and an end to his night. Several days later, McGhin reached an injury settlement with the Bills that resulted in his release.

In November, McGhin was picked up by the Panthers and placed on the practice squad for several weeks before getting activated for the last quarter of the season. He appeared in two games before suffering yet another ankle injury against Washington in his first game. He appeared on the injury report as Questionable the next week, receiving special teams snaps in each contest.

He was eventually downgraded to Doubtful before being placed on IR for the season. In March, he was waived from the Panthers to find a new home, this time his second go-round with Buffalo.

Bills Injury Impact

I do have some concerns about his ankle as it appears that the right ankle injury he suffered with the Bills may have been a high-ankle sprain. That would also coincide with the timeline from which he was released from the Bills to when the Panthers signed him. However, that is total speculation.

Considering he suffered another ankle injury later that season with the Panthers leads to questions if this was the same ankle or the other side. As there is little to no information for an offensive lineman who primarily played special teams in two meaningless games, this is hard to say. The Bills liked him enough they are willing to kick the tires again.