Tag: Klein

Oct 22, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) runs the ball while New England Patriots linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley (8) defends during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Bills activate TE Dawson Knox from IR

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Buffalo Bills activated tight end Dawson Knox from injured reserve on Saturday ahead of their key battle against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Knox was a full participant in practice all week after missing five games with a wrist injury that required surgery. Knox initially injured the wrist in a Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“I feel fresh,” Knox said. ” … I think this is the most fresh I’ve ever felt in Week 13 or 14 of a season before. I got some great time to get the legs back ready. The wrist feels great.”

In a corresponding move, the Bills released linebacker A.J. Klein.

The 27-year-old has 15 receptions for 102 yards and one touchdown this season. Knox has 164 receptions for 1,882 yards and 21 touchdowns in 64 career games (54 starts) over five seasons.

Cornerback Kaiir Elam, who also returned to practice this past week, will not be activated for Sunday. Elam has been on IR with an ankle injury. He also missed two games before being placed on IR.

The 6-6 Bills have a crucial game at Kansas City (8-4) on Sunday. The Bills enter the game as the 10th seed in the AFC with work to do to get back into the playoff picture.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans outside linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) reacts after making a tackle during the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

LB Christian Kirksey tells Bills he’s retiring

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Buffalo Bills linebacker Christian Kirksey announced he is retiring from the NFL, the team said Thursday.

Kirksey, 31, was signed to the Bills’ practice squad on Aug. 31, three days after the Houston Texans released him. He has yet to appear in a game with Buffalo.

He played the previous two seasons in Houston, starting 12 of 13 games in 2021 and all 17 games as a team captain in 2022. He totaled 217 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, three sacks and three interceptions with the Texans.

Kirksey played for the Cleveland Browns from 2014-19 and the Green Bay Packers in 2020. His career totals include 778 tackles, 45 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, seven interceptions, 33 quarterback hits and six fumble recoveries across 114 games (94 starts).

The Browns selected Kirksey in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Iowa.

Also on Thursday, the Bills signed linebacker A.J. Klein to their practice squad.

Klein, 32, has totaled 465 tackles, 15.5 sacks, four interceptions, eight forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 144 career games (82 starts) with the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Bills (2020-22), Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears.

–Field Level Media

Aug 19, 2022; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) is tackled by New Orleans Saints defensive end Taco Charlton (54) during the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Bears sign DL Taco Charlton, waive LB A.J. Klein

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Chicago Bears signed defensive lineman Taco Charlton off the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad on Wednesday and waived veteran linebacker A.J. Klein.

The Bears also activated linebacker Matt Adams from injured reserve. He returned to practice last week.

Charlton, 28, has yet to appear in a game this season. He played in 11 games (one start) for Pittsburgh in 2021. He has 92 tackles and 11.5 sacks in 55 career games (13 starts) for four teams.

“We know the man,” Bears coach Matt Eberflus said Wednesday about Charlton from their time together in Dallas.

“Good production up to a certain point. So we’re excited to have him. We’re excited to see where it can go. He’s going to be in there for depth for us, a rotational player inside and we’ll see where it goes from there.”

Charlton takes the roster spot of defensive end Kingsley Jonathan, released by the Bears this week.

Adams was placed on IR after suffering a calf injury in Week 5 against Minnesota. He had seven tackles in three games before the injury. He’s in his first season in Chicago after four years in Indianapolis.

The Bears acquired Klein on Nov. 1 in the trade that sent Roquan Smith to Baltimore. Klein appeared in the Bears’ last two games, playing nine snaps on special teams and none on defense.

–Field Level Media