Buffalo Rumblings - Bills final roster 2013: full 53-man roster, practice squad setBuffalo Bills news, notes, discussions, opinions and analysis. 24/7/365 since 4/7/2007.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48063/buffalorumblings_fave.png2013-09-02T19:33:20-04:00http://www.buffalorumblings.com/rss/stream/44432152013-09-02T19:33:20-04:002013-09-02T19:33:20-04:00Hopkins injures groin; Dan Carpenter brought in
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<figcaption>Jason Miller</figcaption>
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<p>The injury bug continues to make the rounds in Buffalo's locker room, and Hopkins is merely its latest victim. Carpenter had been Miami's kicker for the past five seasons.</p> <p>ESPN's Adam Schefter is <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/374673548876337152">reporting</a> that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> kicker <span>Dustin Hopkins</span> injured his groin during practice on Monday, and that the Bills have <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/374668272731308033">decided to sign</a> free agent kicker <span>Dan Carpenter</span> as a result.</p>
<p>Hopkins, a rookie out of Florida State, won the team's kicking job in training camp with ease. The injury suffered today, however, clearly means that his status for Sunday's Week 1 tilt with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> is in doubt, so the Bills needed to bring a kicker into the building. They used the final spot on their 53-man active roster to do so.</p>
<p>Carpenter, 27, has been the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a>' primary placekicker for the past five seasons. After two rough seasons between 2010-12 (67.3 percent accuracy in '10 and 76.9 percent a year ago), the Dolphins drafted kicker <span>Caleb Sturgis</span> to replace Carpenter, who was released on August 14 and has since spent time with Arizona and the Jets. He also reportedly had a workout scheduled in Cleveland tomorrow, but has obviously canceled those plans.</p>
<p>Now in Buffalo, the only AFC East team that Carpenter has not played for is his opening day opponent.</p>
https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/9/2/4687968/dustin-hopkins-groin-injury-prompts-buffalo-bills-dan-carpenterBrian Galliford2013-09-02T13:38:30-04:002013-09-02T13:38:30-04:00Leonhard to sign; reunites with Bills, Pettine
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Leonhard, now 30, began his playing career in Buffalo in 2005; his return reunites him not only with the Bills, but with defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> are apparently not yet satisfied with their depth in the defensive backfield, and are thus in the process of signing veteran free agent <span>Jim Leonhard</span>, <a href="https://twitter.com/buffalobills/status/374585776689795072">according to head coach Doug Marrone</a>.</p>
<p>You may recall that Leonhard began his playing career with the Bills way back in 2005 as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin. The signing reunites Leonhard, who turns 31 in October, with the organization that gave him his first shot in the NFL.</p>
<p>More importantly, Leonhard is reunited with a coach that helped Leonhard achieve the most productive seasons of his career: upon departing Buffalo, Leonhard spent four seasons playing for Mike Pettine (and, of course, Rex Ryan). The first of those years came with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Baltimore Ravens</a> in 2008, and the following three with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a> from 2009-2011.</p>
<p>In that four-year stretch, Leonhard started 53 of the 56 games in which he played, recording 254 tackles, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a touchdown. After leaving the Jets following the 2011 season, Leonhard made a few free agent stops - including one in Buffalo last summer - before eventually signing a one-year deal with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a>. Leonhard was most recently with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a>, where he was one of the team's final roster cuts over the weekend.</p>
<p><span>Jairus Byrd</span>, the top safety on the Bills' roster, is <a href="http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/9/1/4684386/jairus-byrd-injury-plantar-fasciitis-foot-specialist">battling plantar fasciitis</a> and has only been back in Orchard Park for a week. <span>Da'Norris Searcy</span>, Byrd's replacement in the starting lineup, has struggled mightily in coverage throughout the summer months. Rookie reserves <span>Duke Williams</span> and <span>Jonathan Meeks</span>, mid-round picks this past April, may not be quite ready to contribute. Perhaps the Bills are looking for a safety that can come in and play right away, and given Leonhard's history with Pettine's defense, he appears to fit that profile.</p>
<p>Buffalo's roster now stands at 52 players (six of them safeties), meaning that they've still got one more open roster spot. Marrone hinted that an addition along the offensive line could be coming. You can keep track of all of the Bills' roster moves in <a href="http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/8/31/4679174/nfl-roster-cuts-2013-buffalo-bills-releases">this StoryStream</a>.</p>
https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/9/2/4685812/bills-final-roster-jim-leonhard-returns-to-buffaloBrian Galliford2013-09-02T09:04:51-04:002013-09-02T09:04:51-04:00Bills round out practice squad with OT, CB
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<figcaption>Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Buffalo's practice squad now has the maximum of eight players allowed: one quarterback, a running back, a receiver, two offensive linemen, a defensive lineman, a linebacker and a cornerback.</p> <p>The Buffalo Bills announced the signings of three more practice squad players on Monday morning, bringing their total to the league-maximum of eight names. New to the squad are running back Ronnie Wingo, offensive lineman Edawn Coughman and cornerback Johnny Adams.</p>
<p>Wingo, a rookie undrafted free agent out of Arkansas, was a signing reported yesterday. We discussed his signing in <a href="http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/9/1/4683426/bills-practice-squad-ronnie-wingo-rb-reportedly-signed">this thread</a>.</p>
<p>Coughman is an undrafted free agent, circa 2011, that played collegiately at Shaw. He spent some time in the CFL, and was also in NFL camps with Seattle and, most recently, Dallas. The 6'4", 305-pound Coughman is light enough on his feet to have received an extended audition at tackle at the NFL level, but may be a better fit inside at guard due to his size.</p>
<p>Adams is a rookie undrafted free agent out of Michigan State, and spent training camp this summer with Indianapolis. A smaller player, the 5'10", 185-pound Adams is nonetheless a speedy athlete, putting up a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the Combine this past February. He gives the Bills a seventh cornerback in the facility in the event that injuries occur beyond the current one to starter Stephon Gilmore.</p>
<p>The full practice squad is listed below. Buffalo's active roster still stands at just 51 players; you can keep constant track of the roster comings and goings on our <a href="http://www.buffalorumblings.com/pages/buffalo-bills-updated-depth-chart-roster">depth chart page</a> or in <a href="http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/8/31/4679174/nfl-roster-cuts-2013-buffalo-bills-releases">this StoryStream</a>.</p>
<table align="center" width="300" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>#</b></td>
<td><b>Pos.</b></td>
<td><b>Name</b></td>
<td><b>Exp</b></td>
<td><b>College</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>QB</td>
<td><span>Thaddeus Lewis</span></td>
<td>2</td>
<td>Duke</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>RB</td>
<td><span>Ronnie Wingo</span></td>
<td>R</td>
<td>Arkansas</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>WR</td>
<td><span>Tommy Streeter</span></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>Miami (FL)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><br></td>
<td>OT</td>
<td><span>Edawn Coughman</span></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>Shaw</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>62</td>
<td>C</td>
<td><span>Mark Asper</span></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>Oregon</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>76</td>
<td>DL</td>
<td><span>Izaan Cross</span></td>
<td>R</td>
<td>Georgia Tech</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>58</td>
<td>LB</td>
<td><span>Jamie Blatnick</span></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>Oklahoma State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>CB</td>
<td><span>Johnny Adams</span></td>
<td>R</td>
<td>Michigan State</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/9/2/4685536/bills-practice-squad-edawn-coughman-johnny-adams-round-out-groupBrian Galliford2013-09-01T15:35:08-04:002013-09-01T15:35:08-04:00Bills announce five practice squad signings
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<figcaption>Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Three of the team's Saturday cuts return, as does a former 2012 Bills draft pick and a speedy project receiver from Baltimore.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Buffalo Bills</a> have announced the names of five additions to their practice squad: quarterback <span>Thaddeus Lewis</span>, wide receiver <span>Tommy Streeter</span>, guard <span>Mark Asper</span>, defensive lineman <span>Izaan Cross</span> and linebacker <span>Jamie Blatnick</span>. The team did not confirm the <a href="http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/9/1/4683426/bills-practice-squad-ronnie-wingo-rb-reportedly-signed">reported signing</a> of running back <span>Ronnie Wingo</span>, however.</p>
<p>Lewis (<a href="http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/9/1/4682958/buffalo-bills-sticking-with-ej-manuel-jeff-tuel-qb">link</a>) and Streeter (<a href="http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/9/1/4683042/bills-practice-squad-tommy-streeter-signed-per-report">link</a>) were both reported signings from earlier this afternoon that you can read about at those respective links. Cross and Blatnick were both cut by the team on Saturday; Cross is an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech that finished the preseason on a high note, while Blatnick was a player that many (including yours truly) thought was a shoo-in for the 53-man roster based on his strong summer session.</p>
<p>Asper is a name you'll recognize from the team's 2012 NFL Draft class, where he was a sixth-round pick out of Oregon. Buffalo released him last summer with the intention of stashing him on the practice squad, but he was claimed off of waivers by Minnesota. He spent training camp this season down in Jacksonville, and has now come back full circle where the Bills intended to have him all along. Asper worked with the team as a center during Chan Gailey's last training camp, and he gives the team some flexibility behind injured reserve guard/center Doug Legursky.</p>
<p>We'll continue to keep track of the Bills' cutdown weekend roster moves <a href="http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/8/31/4679174/nfl-roster-cuts-2013-buffalo-bills-releases">in this StoryStream</a>.</p>
https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/9/1/4683592/bills-practice-squad-jamie-blatnick-mark-asper-among-five-signingsBrian Galliford2013-09-01T14:44:52-04:002013-09-01T14:44:52-04:00RB Wingo added to practice squad, per reports
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<figcaption>Wesley Hitt</figcaption>
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<p>An undrafted free agent out of Arkansas, Wingo is an intriguing athlete (6'2", 231 pounds, 4.47 speed).</p> <p>Aaron Wilson of <i>The Baltimore Sun</i> <a href="https://twitter.com/RavensInsider/status/374236999105773568">reports</a> that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> will bring in rookie running back <span>Ronnie Wingo</span> to join their practice squad.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Ronnie Wingo joins Bills' practice squad, per league source</p>
— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) <a href="https://twitter.com/RavensInsider/statuses/374236999105773568">September 1, 2013</a>
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<p>Wingo, an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas (where he was a teammate of Bills tight end <span>Chris Gragg</span>), spent the spring and summer months as a member of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a>. That team ended up keeping five running backs and a fullback on their final 53-man roster, but Wingo <a href="http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2013/8/30/4674434/falcons-roster-bubble-who-will-get-cut">didn't factor into that wide open race much</a> in his first NFL training camp.</p>
<p>Buffalo looked at two bigger rookie backs of their own this summer, but <span>Kendall Gaskins</span> struggled with ball security and <span>Drew Smith</span> landed on Injured Reserve. Wingo is a similar running back, fullback hybrid with a great size (6'2", 231 pounds) and speed (4.47 at the Arkansas pro day) combination. He's the fourth running back on the Bills' roster during practices as a member of the practice squad, and brings a different dimension to the group from an athletic perspective.</p>
<p>We'll continue to keep track of the Bills' cutdown weekend roster moves <a href="http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/8/31/4679174/nfl-roster-cuts-2013-buffalo-bills-releases">in this StoryStream</a>.</p>
https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/9/1/4683426/bills-practice-squad-ronnie-wingo-rb-reportedly-signedBrian Galliford2013-09-01T14:21:59-04:002013-09-01T14:21:59-04:00CB Brandon Burton signed
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<figcaption>Hannah Foslien</figcaption>
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<p>The Bills needed reinforcements at cornerback, and appear to have found some help in this former fifth-round draft pick out of Utah.</p> <p>Ex-<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a> cornerback <span>Brandon Burton</span> <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonBurton36/status/374228105176440833">tweets</a> that he is now a member of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a>.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>To the buffalo bills organization lets get this work in and win the championship. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Billsnation&src=hash">#Billsnation</a>!!!!!</p>
— Brandon Burton (@BrandonBurton36) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonBurton36/statuses/374228105176440833">September 1, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
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<p>Burton, 24, was a fifth-round pick of the Vikings in the 2011 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a> out of Utah - but many expected him to be selected earlier that year. The 6'0", 190-pound cornerback ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash at the 2011 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-combine">scouting combine</a> following a three-year career at Utah in which he started for two seasons, accumulating 98 tackles, a sack and three interceptions in that time frame.</p>
<p>In two seasons with the Vikings, Burton appeared in only 14 games and was buried on Minnesota's depth chart, failing to ascend in his first two seasons. He is not practice squad eligible, meaning that he's the first of three expected additions to the Bills' 53-man roster, where he becomes the sixth cornerback on the active list. He has a chance to suit up on game days and play special teams while <span>Stephon Gilmore</span> is sidelined with his wrist injury.</p>
<p>We'll continue to keep track of the Bills' cutdown weekend roster moves <a href="http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/8/31/4679174/nfl-roster-cuts-2013-buffalo-bills-releases">in this StoryStream</a>.</p>
https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/9/1/4683312/buffalo-bills-final-roster-brandon-burton-tweets-hes-signedBrian Galliford2013-09-01T13:17:14-04:002013-09-01T13:17:14-04:00Report: WR Streeter signed to practice squad
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<figcaption>Mitch Stringer-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>A 2012 sixth-round pick out of Miami (FL), Streeter is 6'5" with 4.37-second 40-yard dash speed.</p> <p>Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports two names that will be added to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> practice squad: quarterback <span>Thaddeus Lewis</span> and wide receiver <span>Tommy Streeter</span>.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>The Bills are adding QB Thad Lewis to their practice squad, source says. So not just going with 2 QBs. Tommy Streeter, too.</p>
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/statuses/374212688219361281">September 1, 2013</a>
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<p>Lewis, 25, was acquired in a trade with Detroit just last week. He'll run the scout team from the practice squad behind two rookie quarterbacks, which the community is <a href="http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/9/1/4682958/buffalo-bills-sticking-with-ej-manuel-jeff-tuel-qb">currently discussing in this thread</a>.</p>
<p>Streeter was a 2012 sixth-round draft pick of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Baltimore Ravens</a>, and was waived on Saturday. Hailing from Miami, the 6'5", 219-pound Streeter was an intriguing prospect entering the league thanks to his size and 4.37-second speed. He missed his entire rookie season last year with a left ankle and foot injury, then failed to make much of an impression on the Ravens' re-tooled receiver depth chart this summer.</p>
<p>We'll continue to keep track of the Bills' cutdown weekend roster moves <a href="http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/8/31/4679174/nfl-roster-cuts-2013-buffalo-bills-releases">in this StoryStream</a>.</p>
https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/9/1/4683042/bills-practice-squad-tommy-streeter-signed-per-reportBrian Galliford2013-09-01T12:56:41-04:002013-09-01T12:56:41-04:00Bills to keep Manuel/Tuel; Lewis to practice squad
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<figcaption>Rick Stewart</figcaption>
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<p>Reports indicate that EJ Manuel and Jeff Tuel will be the two Bills quarterbacks on the active roster, with Thaddeus Lewis running the scout team from the practice squad.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> still have three roster spots to fill prior to their Week 1 contest with New England, and if what CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora is <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonLaCanfora/status/374208659381026816">hearing</a> is accurate, one of those three acquisitions will not be a quarterback.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Bills sticking with 2 QBs going into Week 1: Manuel, who is coming off a minor meniscus repair, and Tuel, a UDFA who showed well in camp</p>
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonLaCanfora/statuses/374208659381026816">September 1, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
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<p>The implication here, of course, is that the team believes rookie <span>EJ Manuel</span> - who had meniscus surgery two weeks ago today - will be healthy very soon, perhaps even in time to, at minimum, serve as the backup to <span>Jeff Tuel</span> on opening day. Alternatively, the Bills may still be waiting on Manuel, with the option of adding their new practice squad quarterback to the active roster late in the week if Manuel can't go.</p>
<p>Buffalo will have a third quarterback on the team, with multiple reports indicating that <span>Thaddeus Lewis</span> will be added to the team's practice squad. We saw Albert Breer of NFL.com with it first:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>After trading for, then cutting Thad Lewis, Bills are putting the QB on their practice squad today. Another layer of depth for them.</p>
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/statuses/374212820906557440">September 1, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>So there you have it: the Bills will head into the 2013 season with two rookie quarterbacks on the active roster. Youth movement, indeed.</p>
https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2013/9/1/4682958/buffalo-bills-sticking-with-ej-manuel-jeff-tuel-qbBrian Galliford