The Buffalo Bills won’t be reuniting with their former linebacker Tyrel Dodson, who has instead joined a division rival.
Dodson was unexpectedly waived by the Seattle Seahawks this week despite starting all nine games and leading the team with 71 tackles. There was some speculation that the Bills might claim Dodson to bolster their linebacker unit, but instead, he was picked up by the Miami Dolphins.
EX- Bills Linebacker Returns to the AFC East
Tyrel Dodson initially joined the Buffalo Bills in 2019 as an undrafted free agent, spending most of that year on the practice squad before taking on an expanded role in 2020. Over his four seasons in Buffalo, he appeared in 68 games, recording 143 total tackles and 4.5 sacks.
With the Bills facing linebacker injuries, there was speculation that they might look to bring Dodson back as Matt Milano and Baylon Spector recover. However, the Miami Dolphins, positioned higher on the waiver wire, successfully claimed Dodson.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald explained that the team released Dodson to give other linebackers, including rookie Tyrice Knight, more playing time. Rather than relegating Dodson to a backup role, Macdonald felt it would be better for Dodson to find a team where he could continue to play significantly.
“We really appreciate T-Dot,” Macdonald said via the team’s website. “He’s worked extremely hard, rehabbing all offseason. When we stepped back and assessed our roster, we saw an opportunity to give other guys a chance to step up. I hope they seize it and run with it, and this move allows Tyrel to finish the season strong with a new team. That was our reasoning.
The Bills could get a big boost on defense.
The Bills could soon see a key boost to their defense. Head coach Sean McDermott shared this week that the team has activated the 21-day practice window for linebacker Matt Milano, marking a significant step in his recovery.
While Milano has already been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, his return may not be far off. McDermott noted that they’re initially focusing on Milano’s performance in practice as he makes strides in his recovery from a torn pectoral sustained during training camp.
“We’re going to take it one week at a time,” McDermott told SI.com. “It’s been a while since he’s been on the field. He’s done an outstanding job with our trainers to get to this point, so now it’s about taking it day by day. We’ll reassess at the end of the week to see where he stands and what the upcoming week might look like for him.”
Leave a Reply