The Buffalo Bills announced that they’ve activated defensive tackle Vincent Taylor from their Reserve/COVID-19 list, releasing linebacker Mike Bell in a corresponding roster move to keep their count at 81 players. Taylor, who signed onto Buffalo’s practice squad at the start of the 2019 season, appeared in three games for the Bills last year. As a reserve, Taylor appeared on the defense for 48 snaps, with six tackles, one tackle for loss, and a pass defense.
The 6’3” 311 pound Taylor will be one of the contenders for Buffalo’s nose tackle rotation, following the news that Star Lotulelei opted out of the season. Also in the mix are Harrison Phillips (coming back from his torn ACL), Vernon Butler, and Niles Scott, whom the team signed on Sunday.
Bell, a former college safety, went undrafted in 2019, but signed with the Bills early in the 2020 offseason. He’d bulked up to 220 pounds, and there was talk about him trying to make his mark as a candidate for the “Buffalo Nickel” on the Bills defense. Ultimately, the team’s 81-person roster limit and abbreviated preseason made it too challenging to keep him around this year
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].