Buffalo Bills add depth at tight end, sign Kyle Carter

The Buffalo Bills have dealt with their fair share of injuries at tight end and on Monday signed tight end Kyle Carter to add depth to the position.

It has not been a good start for the Buffalo Bills at the tight end position. Earlier this year, the Bills signed tight end Tyler Kroft as a free agent and drafted Dawson Knox out of Ole Miss in the third round. The hope was that these two would compete with Jason Croom, who finished the year with 259 receiving yards which was fourth on the team.

However, it has not gone as planned for the coaching staff and the team has been hit hard with injuries at the position. During OTAs, Kroft suffered a broken foot and is still recovering. He is not expected back until the regular season.

Meanwhile, Jason Croom suffered a hamstring injury during the team’s second training camp practice. This was expected to create an opportunity for Knox to solidify himself at the top of the depth chart. Unfortunately, Knox suffered a hamstring injury of his own that will force him to miss practice time as well.

These injuries left the Bills with only four healthy tight ends on the roster (Nate Becker, Lee Smith, Tommy Sweeney and Keith Towbridge)  and the team decided to bring back Kyle Carter. The former Penn State Nittany Lion went undrafted but signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

After two years with the Vikings, Carter split time between the New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks and the Buffalo Bills last season. The Bills elected to not re-sign him after the season but with the injuries it makes sense to bring in a player who is familiar with the system.

Hopefully the hamstring injury for Croom and Knox are not too serious and they are able to get back to practice sooner rather than later.