ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills placed wide receiver Chase Claypool and quarterback Shane Buechele on injured reserve and made several other moves Tuesday to replenish their injury-depleted roster.
The Bills signed quarterback Ben DiNucci and receivers Damiere Byrd and Deon Cain, all to one-year contracts. Buffalo also released receiver Bryan Thompson.
Claypool’s attempt to revive his career with Buffalo appears to be over as a result of a toe injury that led to the fifth-year player missing most of training camp. The Bills signed Claypool in May after trading Stefon Diggs to Houston and losing Gabe Davis in free agency.
Claypool was on his fourth team in three seasons. The former Notre Dame star has struggled to match the promise and production he showed during his first two seasons in Pittsburgh, in which he combined for 121 yards with 1,733 and 11 touchdowns.
Claypool said in May that he was looking for a fresh start after splitting last season between Chicago and Miami.
DiNucci replaces Buechele, who is out indefinitely after injuring his neck in a 33-6 loss to Chicago on Saturday. He spent last season on Denver’s practice squad. He appeared in three games, including one start, for Dallas during his rookie season in 2020.
With Buffalo limiting the preseason playing time of Josh Allen and Mitch Trubisky, DiNucci is expected to see action when the Bills play at Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Byrd has eight seasons of NFL experience, including the last two in Atlanta, and has been used primarily on special teams. Cain appeared in 15 games split between Indianapolis and Pittsburgh during the 2019-20 seasons, and has been out of the league since being released by Philadelphia before the start of last season.
