Buffalo Bills rookie linebacker Reggie Ragland has suffered what appears to be a partially torn ACL according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It is unknown how much time Ragland will miss, but the Bills signed linebacker Brandon Spikes to fill his spot.
Initial MRI on Bills Reggie Ragland’s knee revealed what appears to be partial ACL tear; team confident it’s not fully torn, per team source
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 8, 2016
Buffalo Bills Sign Brandon Spikes After Reggie Ragland Injury
Reggie Ragland
Reggie Ragland was drafted in the second round (41st overall) out of Alabama in the 2016 NFL Draft. Ragland had a successful college career, with his senior year being his pinnacle. He had 60 solo tackles, 42 assisted tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 6.5 tackles for a loss in 2015. His 60 solo tackles led the SEC. He was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and a Consensus All-American for 2015.
Heading into the draft, he was pegged as a mid-first round pick, but some minor health concerns led to teams passing on him. The Bills traded up from the 49th spot to snag Ragland. They had high hopes for him and were planning on starting him in his rookie season.
Ragland’s injury came on a play during training camp when he was covering Reggie Bush. The apparent ACL tear was from a non-contact knee injury sustained on that play. While the severity will not be fully known until Ragland gets a second MRI, head coach Rex Ryan said they are “definitely concerned” about his knee, according to WKBW’s Joe Buscaglia.
Rex Ryan reiterated that they are “definitely concerned” with Reggie Ragland’s knee #Bills
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) August 6, 2016
Brandon Spikes
Brandon Spikes was signed after the news about Ragland. The Bills also added another linebacker in David Hawthorne and a tight end in Jimmay Mundine according to their team Twitter account.
Brandon Spikes is back on the Bills.
SIGNED: Spikes, LB David Hawthorne, TE Jimmay Mundine. https://t.co/iqyJZDMcTY pic.twitter.com/lCMB5fZMlF
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) August 7, 2016
Spikes most recently played with the Bills in 2014. He was set to play with the New England Patriots in 2015, but was cut as he was apart of a hit-and-run incident. That later led to a four-game personal conduct ban that he served as a free agent.
Spikes was drafted out of the University of Florida by the Patriots in 2010. In his 67 career games over five seasons, he has accumulated 206 tackles, 140 assisted tackles, 17 passes defended, five forced fumbles, two sacks, and two interceptions.
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