ORCHARD PARK, NY (AP) — The Buffalo Bills placed receiver Chase Claypool and third quarterback Shane Buechele on the injured list and took several other measures to replenish the injury-weakened squad.
The Bills signed quarterback Ben DiNucci and receivers Damiere Byrd and Deon Cain for one year each. Buffalo also released receiver Bryan Thompson.
Claypool’s attempt to revive his career in Buffalo appears to have ended due to a toe injury that caused the fifth-year player to miss much of training camp. The Bills signed Claypool in May after Stefon Diggs was traded to Houston and Gabe Davis was lost as a free agent.
Claypool was on his fourth team in three seasons. The former Notre Dame star struggled to match the promise and performance of his first two seasons in Pittsburgh, in which he totaled 121 catches for 1,733 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Claypool said in May he was looking for a fresh start after splitting last season between Chicago and Miami.
“I’ve learned from all my mistakes. I feel like you have to learn from every mistake or mishap you make, you have to grow from it,” Claypool said, adding that he believes he has been falsely portrayed as a selfish player.
“I’m not here to prove that I’m not what they say I am, I’m just here to be who I am and be part of the team,” he said. “I just am who I am.”
DiNucci replaces Buechele, who is out indefinitely after suffering a 33:6 opening defeat against Chicago on Saturday. DiNucci spent last season on Denver’s practice squad. In his rookie season in 2020, he appeared in three games with Dallas, including a starting spot.
With Buffalo limiting Josh Allen and Mitch Trubisky’s playing time in the preseason, DiNucci is expected to play when the Bills play at Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Byrd has eight seasons of NFL experience, including the last two in Atlanta, and was used primarily on special teams. Cain appeared in 15 games between Indianapolis and Pittsburgh during the 2019-20 season and has been out of the league since being released by Philadelphia before the start of last season.
NOTES: Starting linebacker Matt Milano finished practice and watched from the sidelines after apparently injuring his left arm. The team did not provide any update on the nature of his injury. … The Bills leave early for their game at Pittsburgh because they have a joint practice with the Steelers on Thursday.
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