Buffalo Bills’ LB Andre Smith reportedly suspended six games

The Buffalo Bills’ backup linebacker and special teams contributor Andre Smith will be suspended for the start of the regular season

It was reported on Wednesday by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that Buffalo Bills’ linebacker Andre Smith would be suspended for the first six games of the 2022 season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

Andre Smith was originally a seventh round pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2019. However, he was traded to the Bills right before the 2020 season and would re-sign with the team last year on a two-year deal. During his time in Buffalo, Smith has primarily been a special teams contributor and in both seasons has played 60% or more special teams snaps.

He has 19 total tackles and one fumble recovery as a member of the Buffalo Bills.

Andre Smith responds to his suspension

The Bills’ linebacker took to Twitter on Wednesday night to respond to his suspension and said this is something he has been disputing since last November. He says he did not agree with the suspension and stated he has never taken a PED.

Could the Buffalo Bills release Andre Smith?

With Andre Smith now set to miss the first six games of the season, the Buffalo Bills could now have a decision to make.

As the account for Spotrac tweeted, the Bills could release Smith and save $1.1 million in cap space. He is entering the final year of his contract and this could be an option to create some additional cap space at this point of the year.

Whether the Bills release Smith or not, they will have to find a replacement for him on their special teams unit knowing he will miss at a minimum the first six games of the 2022 season.