Buffalo Bills waive Kolby Listenbee, sign Rashad Ross

Kolby Listenbee’s tenure with the Buffalo Bills is over before it really began, being waived to make room for Rashad Ross.

On Tuesday, the Buffalo Bills waived the former sixth-round draft pick with the non-football injury designation. It’s a disappointing end to what could’ve been a steal; Kolby Listenbee couldn’t stay healthy over the past year. He sat out his rookie year after sports hernia surgery. The release became Rashad Ross’ gain.

Listenbee playing wasn’t looking any more promising this year either. In December, he announced that he was undergoing hip surgery from an a college injury. He claimed that he’d return in 2017, but now it looks like that will be for another team.

Drafted in the sixth round out of Texas Christian University, Listenbee was well-known for his speed. Kolby claimed he was the fastest player in the NFL right after he was drafted. He ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the combine even while dealing with injuries.

His college statistics were decent, with him racking up 1,350 yards and nine touchdowns from 2014-2015 after spending the previous two years barely contributing. When the Buffalo Bills drafted him, there was the sense that this wide receiver had potential. His combine performance inspired people to imagine how he could perform when finally healthy.

Interestingly, if no team claims Kolby Listenbee on waivers, he can go back to the Bills on the reserve/NFI list or come to an injury settlement. In other words, we may not have seen the last of Listenbee in Buffalo. But as of right now, it looks like the case.

Now Bills fans will never know what he could’ve achieved in Buffalo, although I don’t think the move is surprising. While the Bills aren’t incredibly deep at wide receiver, Listenbee isn’t exactly a reliable back-up. He hadn’t even stepped on a pro football field yet.

In football, availability can trump any potential ability, and Kolby is proof of that.

Like most other happenings at One Bills Drive lately, this is also proof that being a Doug Whaley pick means nothing in the Sean McDermott era. The Bills head coach doesn’t care when you were drafted and how high, only what you can contribute. Unfortunately, Listenbee didn’t do a good job of convincing McDermott that he can, even if it wasn’t his own fault.

Listenbee’s release also coincided with another move the Buffalo Bills made today. They signed wide receiver Rashad Ross, who was most recently on the Washington Redskins. He’s mostly been a journeyman, with seven stints on six teams since coming into the league in 2013.

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The former Arizona State Sun Devil is known for his speed and owns the record for the league’s fastest play. That came in 2015 on a kick return for the Washington Redskins against the New York Giants, when he hit 21.5 MPH.

Ross’ statistics aren’t great (192 yards and a touchdown in five seasons), but he could bring value on special teams. Essentially, the Bills are going from one speedy player to another. Ross could likely end up being another training camp body at receiver, but he could also provide kick return insurance if incumbent starter Brandon Tate is hurt.

One last thing regarding Listenbee: he wore the number 18 with the Bills, which was Jeremy Maclin’s number during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles. This could mean nothing, or it could mean everything. You decide.

I guess we’ll learn more after Maclin visits Buffalo on Tuesday.

Next: 40 players remain on the roster from last season

What do YOU think of the Buffalo Bills releasing Kolby Listenbee? Leave your comments below!

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