The Buffalo Bills add depth to the running back position after losing Zack Moss for the remainder of the playoffs.
Early Tuesday morning it was announced by NFL Network’s Insider Ian Rapoport that the Buffalo Bills have signed running back Devonta Freeman to their practice squad.
The #Bills are signing former #Giants RB Devonta Freeman to their practice squad after the season-ending injury to RB Zack Moss, per agent @DrewJRosenhaus. NYG released Freeman recently for opportunities like this.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 12, 2021
This news comes on the heels of the team losing running back Zack Moss for the remainder of the postseason due to an ankle injury suffered against the Indianapolis Colts in the wildcard round.
For Freeman, he appeared in five games for the New York Giants this season. He joined the team after they lost star running Saquon Barkley and had a modest 3.2 yards per attempt. For his career the average is 4.1, but that has declined in each of the past three seasons.
Freeman added one touchdown on the ground this season but also provides an option out of the backfield catching passes. Spanning his entire career his average per catch is 7.9 yards, but this season it improved to 8.3 yards.
Given the time of the season, it is reasonable to expect the signing of Freeman to be nothing more than a break glass prevention. The Bills already had a natural replacement for Moss in veteran T.J. Yeldon but practice squad running back Antonio Williams could also be a good option.
Williams excelled in Week 17 against a Miami Dolphins team still playing their starters as they fought for their postseason lives. He gained 63 yards on 12 carriers for an average of 5.3 yards. He displayed plenty of power and toughness in his runs. This is exactly what this offense needs to replace the loss of Moss.
Bringing Freeman into the fold now allows him enough time to learn the playbook while providing the Bills with a veteran option should another injury hit the position group.
This is not the first time the front office has added veteran options to their practice squad in recent weeks. Before their game against the Colts, the Bills also added wide receiver Kenny Stills who has plenty of playoff experience and is a veteran addition at that position.
For now, the current running back depth is Devin Singletary, T.J. Yeldon, and Taiwan Jones. Yeldon is a natural replacement for Singletary and Jones is primarily used on special teams so an additional move to the active roster is expected later in the week. It would make sense to see the Bills call up either Freeman or Antonio Williams before Saturday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.