Lorenzo Alexander Is Ready To Produce For Buffalo

As the injuries mount up, Lorenzo Alexander is in a prime position to showcase his hard-hitting plays for Buffalo.

“That was one of the best hits I’ve been around since I’ve been in the NFL.”

The quote is from then Head Coach of Washington, Mike Shanahan, about a strong special teams play by Alexander in 2010.

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It may not seem like a long time to us, but 2010 is two cities and a storied road away for Lorenzo Alexander.

Alexander has bounced around from team to team since the start of his NFL career. He went undrafted in 2005 and bounced from practice squads in Carolina and Baltimore but settled for a bit in Washington in October of 2006.

He waited patiently for over a year for his shot to play and got his chance in a matchup against the Detroit Lions in 2007. A few weeks after that, he was named a starter.

Throughout his career he has been nominated for awards on and off the field including being nominated as Washington’s Walter Peyton Man of The Year Award two consecutive years as well as a Pro Bowl alternate.

After Washington, he spent two years in Arizona and one in Oakland before landing in Buffalo in 2016.

When the Bills signed him in early April, they expected Alexander to be a shining star on special teams and be a veteran backup on defense.

Injury after injury has changed his scenario and has lead to the opportunity Alexander has been waiting for, to be a starter.

Aug 13, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander (57) against the Indianapolis Colts at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

Alexander first made an impression on me when playing against his former team, Washington, this preseason. A quick spin move on the lineman left Alexander with a free shot on Kirk Cousins, which he took full advantage of. The play was negated by an iffy roughing-the-passer call on Alexander, but his impact was felt.

Could this guy be the one starting opposite of Jerry Hughes?

Well, a few blessings in disguise later and Lorenzo Alexander is a starting outside middle linebacker for the Bills.

“Obviously throughout a season your role can change based on injuries, guys suspended, or whatever the situation may be” – Lorenzo Alexander

The Return.

Ironically enough, Alexander faces three out of his five previous teams this regular season. Granted, a few of his previous homes weren’t long-lived but I would be surprised if he isn’t chomping at the bit to show them what they’re missing.

Lorenzo Alexander will head to Baltimore September 11th to face the Ravens in the first game of the season as the Bills hope to start the season strong.

“Obviously, throughout a season your role can change based on injuries, guys suspended, or whatever the situation may be,” Alexander said via BuffaloBills.com. “So I always have to be ready to play anywhere whether it’s outside, inside, and that’s kind have been my initiative throughout my whole career in the NFL.”

What the future holds is unsure for the 33-year-old but one thing is certain, he will play every down as if it’s his last. Being bounced from team to team is not easy for an NFL player but seeing the field and making an impact makes the journey worth it.

This game means a great deal for a few other Bills personnel as well. Tyrod Taylor spent four years with the Ravens as a backup to Joe Flacco after leaving for Buffalo in 2015 for a chance to compete.

Ed Reed is returning to his former home after writing a storied past in Baltimore. Reed spent eleven years there as safety and created his own Pro-Bowl-esque career with the Ravens.

Four and eleven years seem like light years compared to Lorenzo Alexander’s five days spent on the Ravens practice squad. People spend longer on business trips in Baltimore than five days. That might be a little motivation in Week One for Alexander. He’s out to prove he’s worth more than five days on a practice squad, but after all, football is business.

Next: Here's Why You Need To Draft Tyrod Taylor For Your Fantasy Team

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