Bills forced to shake up the roster ahead of Week 13 by bringing back an all-too familiar face
Shaq Lawson has once again returned to Buffalo.
The Buffalo Bills have confirmed that they are bringing back former first-round pick and defensive end Shaq Lawson to the practice squad. Lawson went viral after posting an Instagram story showing that he was in Buffalo, hinting that the move may be coming down the pipeline.
Per the official transaction report by the NFL, Lawson was, in fact, brought in for a workout, and the team wasted no time signing him to the practice squad. Buffalo desperately needs bodies on the defensive front right now, and Lawson knows the system like the back of his hand. The defensive front has been ravaged by injuries, forcing Buffalo to make a move this late in the season.
In a subsequent decision, the team released defensive end Andre Jones Jr. from the practice squad to create a spot for Lawson’s addition. The former first-round pick is now on his third stint with the Buffalo Bills, and fans are divided over the latest decision.
Lawson spent one season with the Carolina Panthers in 2024, appearing in only one game and not registering a single tackle. In six seasons in Buffalo, Lawson has played in 81 games with 21 sacks and 152 combined tackles. He also spent one season with the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets before returning to Buffalo in 2023, and then spent the 2024 campaign with the Panthers.
Surprise, surprise, another former Bill is back
The jokes write themselves at this point. The Buffalo Bills are struggling on defense and desperately need a boost, so they bring back a former player who has a history with the organization. It’s not the first time this season that Buffalo has gone back to the well of players from their past in hopes of adding a much-needed spark to the organization.
Just this season, safety Jordan Poyer and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips once again rejoined the organization after spending some time with outside clubs. Lawson’s addition is yet another former player returning, but one with not a lot of pedigree or game-breaking stats behind his name.
It’s not surprising, and in line with the type of move the team can and would make this late in the season. With injuries continuing to pile up, Lawson provides at the very least an extra body to rotate in on the defensive front, if he were to be elevated on gamedays.
If nothing else, Lawson brings familiarity and a willingness to do the dirty work. At a time when Buffalo’s defensive front seems to be hanging on by a thread, sometimes that’s enough to make a difference. How much he has left in the tank will become apparent soon enough, but the Bills need every able body they can get at this point of the year.
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