The Buffalo Bills were hoping to start the 2024 season off right, as the team enters a new season with a questionable wide receiver room. The Bills traded All-Pro Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans and allowed Gabe Davis to walk in free agency.
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To make up for losing both productive wide receivers, the Bills brought in former Washington Commanders receiver Curtis Samuel, former Kansas City Chiefs receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and former Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins receiver Chase Claypool.
The hope was that Claypool could carve out a significant role in the offense, but that will not be the case anymore. The team announced that Claypool was placed on IR, ending his 2024 season.
Claypool suffered an injury on July 28 and was yet to participate in practice with the Bills. The 53-man roster can only include two players on IR designated to return, which needs to be cut down by Aug. 27.
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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – JUNE 12: Chase Claypool #14 of the Buffalo Bills looks on during the Buffalo Bills mandatory minicamp on June 12, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. Claypool is out for the season.
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Claypool will likely be given an injury settlement from the Bills. This could allow the journeyman receiver to return to the Bills, or sign with another team when he is fully healthy.
Though Claypool was not set to be a starting-caliber receiver, he could have been a valuable third-string rotational piece. Instead, he will need to heal up to potentially join another team.
Claypool was initially drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 49 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. His rookie season was impressive, as Claypool secured 873 yards and nine touchdowns with two rushing touchdowns.
Claypool would follow that up with an equally impressive 2021 season, bringing in 860 yards and two touchdowns.
After the 2021 season, Claypool was traded to the Chicago Bears for a second-round pick. During the 2023 season, Claypool was accused of playing with low effort in the Bears’ season opener.
Claypool would then publicly state that the Bears coaches had not placed him in the best possible position to succeed. His short-lived season with the Bears would end when he was traded to the Miami Dolphins.
Claypool would finish with 77 yards and one touchdown in 2023. He joined the Bills and was likely hoping to rebound his career there. However, he will have to wait until he is fully healed to make a return.
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