Training camp has begun, and the Buffalo Bills are already banged up at receiver.
Curtis Samuel (hamstring), Elijah Moore (leg soreness), Kaden Prather (hamstring) and Tyrell Shavers (ankle) are all currently sidelined, leaving the team with few options as July winds down.
More options may be available in the coming days, and it would certainly behoove the Bills to bring in another capable body. As they sort through the possibilities, one particularly intriguing name to surface is former Bills receiver/running back Cordarrelle Patterson.
The 34-year-old Patterson, who is also one of the NFL’s best returners, was released on Monday by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Syracuse.com’s Ryan Talbot even suggested Patterson as a fit to return to Buffalo because of his connection with Bills special teams coordinator Chris Tabor. They were together in 2019 and 2020 when Patterson led the league in kickoff return yards with the Chicago Bears.
“Patterson, 34, is a Swiss army knife of sorts that can play at both running back and wide receiver on offense and contribute on special teams,” Talbot wrote. “In his career, Patterson has been named a first-team All-Pro four times and a second-team All-Pro three times as a returner.
“Buffalo does not have a kick returner set in stone, so Patterson could also throw his hat in the ring for that job if signed.”
Who is the Bills’ Top Receiver?
The Bills’ receiving room remains largely devoid of a true No. 1 option, though Khalil Shakir was easily their most productive target in 2024 with 76 catches for 821 yards and four touchdowns.
Keon Coleman was second on the team in receiving yards (556), followed by tight end Dalton Kincaid (448).
Patterson doesn’t have the ability to be a top-flight receiver, but he’s certainly capable of helping a pinch.
Last season with Pittsburgh, Patterson had 12 catches for 80 yards and a touchdown in 13 games. He also ran for 135 yards. His most productive season as a receiver came in 2021 with the Atlanta Falcons when he had a career-high 548 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 52 catches.
What are the Other Receiving Options for Buffalo?
Per the NFL transaction wire, Buffalo recently conducted private workouts for receivers Justyn Ross and Willie Snead. Neither is a surefire option but that’s the reality the Bills face as they kick off camp.
They are also dealing with depth issues at tight end, as Dawson Knox nurses a hamstring strain. As such, they signed veteran Matt Sokol, who most recently spent time on the Steelers’ practice squad. The 6-foot-6 Sokol has logged only 53 career snaps and has yet to record a catch.
