He made a good enough impression in less than a week to make the team's 53-man roster coming out of the preseason, but a need at offensive tackle bumped him off the roster. Now with a need at wide receiver, Ruvell Martin is back with the Bills.
The seven-year veteran re-signed with Buffalo on Tuesday.
"He did a great job picking up the offense quickly," said head coach Chan Gailey. "He's a very versatile player. He knows all of our spots out there. He can go play several spots on the team and he can go play special teams. That's a huge benefit to a guy."
Martin replaces fellow receiver Marcus Easley, who was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed illness Tuesday. Gailey chose not to publicize Easley's affliction, but it was obviously serious enough to warrant an I-R assignment.
For the second straight year Easley's season is over before it began. The second-year wideout missed all of last season after suffering a knee injury in training camp.
Easley pulled himself out of practice last Friday and was seen pointing to his chest when talking to athletic trainers on the sideline. He did not make the trip to Kansas City for the Bills season opener last weekend.
Progress was anticipated from the former fourth-round pick in 2011 after a promising outing in the team's third preseason game against Jacksonville when he had five receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown. He has yet to appear in an NFL regular season game.
Martin appeared in each of Buffalo's final two preseason games making three receptions for 40 yards, while also playing on special teams coverage units.
Practice Squad roster move
The Bills also announced that the team has signed CB Terrence Wheatley to the Practice Squad. The 5-9, 185-pound Colorado product entered the NFL as a second-round (62nd overall) draft pick of New England in 2008. Wheatley appeared in 11 games with the Patriots before being released on November 6, 2010 and signing with Jacksonville on November 9th.
Buffalo released QB Levi Brown from the Practice Squad.
