Tight end O.J. Howard is among the players the Buffalo Bills plan to release to reach the 53-man roster limit by Tuesday’s deadline, per multiple reports.
Pro Bowl cornerback Tre’Davious White will also begin the season the reserve/physically unable to perform list, meaning he’ll miss the first four games of the regular season.
Howard signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal in free agency when he joined the Bills on March 16.
But he was unable to carve out a role in the Buffalo offense and was reportedly on the trade block last week.
Quintin Morris, who started the second preseason game ahead of Howard, and Tommy Sweeney received more reps with the first-team group in training camp behind Dawson Knox.
Howard, 27, was a first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017 after a breakout season with Alabama.
His impact on the Buccaneers was minimized by injuries, including a torn Achilles and high ankle sprain. He caught 14 passes for 135 yards and one touchdown in 2021 with Tampa Bay.
In five NFL seasons and 59 total games (46 starts), Howard has 119 receptions for 1,737 yards and 15 touchdowns.
White sustained a torn ACL in the second quarter of the Bills’ 31-6 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 25.
White was an All-Pro selection in 2019. He recorded 41 tackles, an interception and six passes defensed in 11 games in 2021.
The Bills selected White in the first round (No. 27 overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. The 27-year-old has played in 72 games (all starts) for Buffalo and has 279 tackles, 16 interceptions, three sacks, five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries in his career.
–Field Level Media
