The Buffalo Bills on Friday announced that they have placed their star receiver, Sammy Watkins, on the injured reserve list. To replace Watkins on the team roster, the Bills claimed former Tennessee Titans receiver Justin Hunter off waivers.
Buffalo Bills Place Sammy Watkins on Injured Reserve
Watkins, 23, is expected to miss at least eight weeks with his current foot injury, but it’s also extremely likely that the young receiver could miss the remainder of the season.
The Bills third-year receiver suffered the foot injury back in May, and had to undergo surgery. The injury that Watkins has suffered is similar to the one All Pro receivers Julio Jones and Dez Bryant from the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys have had to deal with over the last couple of seasons.
Watkins was the fourth overall pick by Buffalo in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Clemson. As a rookie, the Clemson standout reeled in 65 receptions for 982 yards and six touchdowns. In 2015 he added another 60 receptions, this time for 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns. Unfortunately for Watkins and the Bills, the young playmaker has only managed to play in two games, where he’s only been able to haul in six catches for 63 yards.
With Watkins likely done for the rest of the season, means wide receivers Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin are going to have to step up their game.
The Bills drafted Woods in the second-round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of USC, and are now going to need the fourth-year pro to step into the number one role. Over Woods’ first three seasons in the NFL, he has started 38 games, but suffered a decline in production last season after having a 2014 season that saw him set career-highs with 65 catches for 699 yards and five touchdowns. In 2015, injuries and an inability to get on the same page with quarterback Tyrod Taylor, saw his production decrease significantly. That’s something that will have to vastly improve with Watkins out.
Goodwin, who was a third-round pick out of Texas in 2013, has yet to establish himself as a reliable receiver in the league despite his speed. Entering the 2016 season, Goodwin had just 20 receptions and three touchdowns, but the speedster has shown he can be a viable deep threat. With Taylor at quarterback, who has the unique ability to extend plays, Goodwin should be able to get behind the defense to set up the potential for big plays.
So with Watkins on IR, and Rex Ryan‘s job possibly on the line, the Bills are going to need both Woods and Goodwin to step up in the passing game.
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