Bryce Brown released by Buffalo Bills; Marcell Dareus activated

The Buffalo Bills knew they'd need to part ways with a member of their 53-man roster this week to account for the return of no-longer-suspended defensive lineman Marcell Dareus. They chose to release running back Bryce Brown on Tuesday.

Brown, you may recall, was required via trade with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2014 NFL Draft. His Bills career lasted just 17 regular season games, 10 of which he spent in street clothes on the sidelines as a healthy scratch, including last week's victory over Indianapolis. In seven career appearances with the Bills, then, Brown carried the ball 36 times for 126 yards (3.5 yards per carry), and also caught 16 passes for 176 yards.

The release of Brown leaves the Bills with three running backs that they are clearly very comfortable with: LeSean McCoy, the $40 million man; Karlos Williams, the big, physical, speedy rookie; and Boobie Dixon, the fan-favorite special teams ace that moonlights as a short-yardage player.

Dareus' return leaves the Bills with five defensive tackles, as well, as the team elected to keep veteran Andre Fluellen as a fifth player there instead of Brown as the fourth running back. Fluellen, like Brown, was inactive in Week 1.