Buffalo Bills wide receiver targets after Week 2

The Buffalo Bills wide receiver position is the most banged up we have seen in a long time. After placing Chase Claypool on injured reserve last week, the team signed Deon Cain and Damiere Byrd. Now this week, Curtis Samuel (toe) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (neck) are all week-to-week, with MVS missing multiple weeks, head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday. With the starters not playing in the preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers, that doesn’t leave very many available receivers for Saturday’s game. That leaves the door open for more wide receiver additions in Buffalo. So, let’s take a look at three receivers the Bills could sign. 

Alex Erickson

Erickson has been in the league for eight seasons now, splitting time with the Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers, Washington Commanders, and Los Angeles Chargers. In those eight seasons, Erickson has totaled 1,373 yards and two touchdowns on 112 receptions. Erickson has experience as both a punt and kick returner and could be a nice practice squad addition for Buffalo in case of emergency. 

Erickson doesn’t have a clear path to a return job, but having a veteran on the practice squad will be crucial once December hits. The Bills had plenty of injuries late last season, and having veterans around on the practice squad became a need. 

Jamal Agnew

Much like Erickson, Agnew has plenty of return experience and was named First-Team All-Pro as a rookie in 2017 after returning two punts for touchdowns. If signed, Agnew would start the season on the practice squad with a good chance of being called up early on in the season. Agnew is versatile enough to play multiple positions on the field, including wide receiver and cornerback, and finished the 2022 season with three receiving touchdowns. 

With Buffalo’s top-four receivers already locked up, we likely wouldn’t see too much of Agnew on offense. However, his talent is on special teams, and with the new kickoff rules, Agnew could be a prime candidate to be the kick returner down the road. 

Lynn Bowden

Bowden doesn’t have the special teams experience as the other two players here, however, he does have one thing that coach McDermott values; versatility. That’s been preached many times around Buffalo and that’s because all of his players have it. He values players who play multiple positions, whether on offense or defense. Bowden can play wide receiver and running back, and when he was in college, he started seven games as a quarterback in his junior year. 

Bowden may be one of the most fascinating “what if” players in the league. Bowden likely wouldn’t make it past roster cuts in Buffalo, but a practice squad spot would be open for Bowden if Buffalo decides to bring him in.