With first-round pick Shaq Lawson (shoulder) on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, the Buffalo Bills were expected to start linebacker Manny Lawson opposite Jerry Hughes when they opened the regular season against the Baltimore Ravens on September 11. However, with a one-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy possibly looming, Rex Ryan & Co. decided to go in a different direction.
As part of the team’s roster trimming on Friday afternoon, the Bills announced that they had cut Lawson along with fullback Jerome Felton and 19 other players.
In addition to his potential suspension, Lawson was also limited throughout training camp due to a partially torn pectoral muscle, only receiving full clearance three weeks ago.
A 10-year NFL veteran, Lawson joined the Bills in 2013 after two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he was a first-round pick in 2006.
In 143 career regular season games, Lawson recorded 471 tackles, 24.5 sacks, four interceptions, 27 passes defensed and 42 stuffs.
With Shaq Lawson not able to return until at least Week 7, the Bills now appear poised to move forward with veteran Lorenzo Alexander starting on the outside.
