Demands at cornerback and offensive line due to injury forced the Bills hand again on Wednesday. Two days removed from releasing veteran LB Kirk Morrison, Buffalo cleared another roster spot by moving veteran DE Chris Kelsay to injured reserve. The club then promoted CB T.J. Heath and G Keith Williams from the practice squad to the active roster.
Kelsay has missed three of the last four games with a torn ligament in his neck, a freak injury that occurred in practice last month. He tried to return and play at Indianapolis in Week 12, but could not finish the game.
For Kelsay it's an unfortunate circumstance. After missing four games last season, the normally durable defensive end will miss seven of the last eight games. His 2012 season ends with 18 tackles, including four for loss and two sacks. Kelsay has two years remaining on his current contract.
Heath (6'1" 184) has been with the club since he was signed to the practice squad on Sept. 3. The Jacksonville State product entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Jacksonville in 2011 and appeared in five games with the Jaguars. He spent the 2012 training camp with Cincinnati before being released on Aug. 31st.
With Aaron Williams still iffy to return from a knee injury suffered in Week 9, and Leodis McKelvin trying to return from a tight back that forced an early exit from Sunday's game, Gailey and the defensive staff chose to fortify their numbers at cornerback.
Williams (6'5" 330) was signed to Buffalo's practice squad on Oct. 23rd. He also spent 13 weeks on the Bills practice squad in 2011. He's a former sixth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With the loss of Eric Wood prompting right guard Kraig Urbik to move inside to the pivot, rookie David Snow is expected to start at right guard. That would make Williams the reserve guard for Sunday's game.
Two practice squad additionsBuffalo also signed a pair of offensive tackles in Adam Grant and J.B. Shugarts to the practice squad.
Grant joins the Bills after spending 2011 and a portion of the 2012 season on the Denver Broncos' practice squad. The 6-6, 325-pound Arizona product entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Denver in 2011. He made 31 starts in 34 games for the Wildcats, earning second-team All-Pacific 10 Conference honors following his junior and senior seasons. He will wear No. 62.
Shugarts (6'7" 300) entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Cleveland in May and spent a portion of the regular season on the Browns' practice squad. A four-year letterman out of Ohio State (2008-11) Shugarts will wear No. 64.
