Bills’ Tyrell Shavers makes big change after cracking initial 53-man roster just days before season-opener against Ravens
Tyrell Shavers is making a statement.
I am so freaking happy that Tyrell Shavers made the initial 53-man roster, and so is the Bills Mafia. He had been working his tail off all training camp and preseason, and it was sealed with an impressive one-handed touchdown grab against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the preseason finale. That’s not to say it was only because of that one-handed grab, but it was an exclamation point. What had me even more pumped about Shavers was the fact that immediately after his touchdown, on the ensuing kickoff, Shavers helped push the runner out of bounds. Now, before the season begins, Shavers’ agent has broken the news that he’ll be changing his number to 14 heading into the season, switching from 80.
The last number 14 didn’t end so well, as Stefon Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans after an offseason spent with more controversy than we’d like. In his four seasons with Buffalo, Diggs totaled 445 receptions for 5,372 yards and 37 touchdowns. The running bit whenever Allen and Diggs would score a touchdown was social media being flooded with “17 + 14 = 7.” However, Diggs’ off-the-field antics saw him leave Buffalo with the team eating over $31 million in dead cap.
Before Diggs, there was Sammy Watkins. Watkins’ journey was riddled with depression and off-field issues as well, and we’re hoping that he’s been able to overcome such a difficult battle. His play on the field fell short of expectations after the Bills moved up in the draft to take him in 2014. He was the fourth overall selection after Buffalo made a trade with the Cleveland Browns to go get him. Watkins spent three years with the Bills and totaled 153 receptions for 2,459 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Now, Shavers dons the number. Luckily for fans out there (like myself) with both Watkins and Diggs, there’s always a potential of swapping out a name plate on the jerseys. Nevertheless, Shavers’ decision dates back to his college days, where he wore the number 14 for the Alabama Crimson Tide and San Diego State Aztecs, while wearing number nine for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Shavers goes back to his college days
Throughout his collegiate career, Shavers has played in 58 games with 66 receptions for 983 yards and six touchdowns as a receiver and added another three touchdowns that were off blocked punts. His off-the-field accolades include being named to the 2022 Second-Team All-Mountain West, becoming the first Aztec receiver to earn such honors since 2010, while also being named to the Mountain West Fall All-Academic Team in 2021 and 2022.
Last season, we got a little taste of what Shavers can do on the football field. He capped the year with a 69-yard touchdown in Week 17. The talented receiver immediately picked up where he left off, having a dominant training camp and preseason and earning his spot on the roster.
Even after cracking the 53-man roster, the work for Shavers isn’t done yet. Bills Mafia won’t have to wait long to see what he can do with Josh Allen, as the team is facing off against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 7. That fancy new number 14 will have a bunch of eyes on him, and will hopefully write another exciting chapter in an already impressive journey to the NFL.
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We can’t wait for the season to begin.
