Phidarian Mathis
Getty
Phidarian Mathis has latched on with the Bills practice squad
For much of the Buffalo Bills‘ Week 1 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, it looked like they were going to suffer a hard-fought defeat. A late rally in the fourth quarter ended up being successful, though, and the Bills walked away from their season-opener with a thrilling 41-40 victory over one of their top competitors in the AFC.
And yet, Buffalo has only played one game this season, meaning there is still a lot of work for them to do. One of the reasons the Bills were trailing for the majority of the game was that they could not stop the combination of Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson on the ground. So, on Wednesday morning, Buffalo decided to add a former second-round pick to their team in an effort to add some depth to their defensive line.
Bills Sign Phidarian Mathis to Their Practice Squad
The player the Bills brought to town is defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis, a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft who struggled to find his fit with the Washington Commanders during his first three seasons in the league. During that time, Mathis has racked up just 25 tackles, one pass deflection, and one fumble recovery.
After getting released by the Commanders late last season, Mathis was scooped up by the New York Jets. He didn’t end up making their final roster this year, though, as he was released at the end of August. Since then, Mathis has been waiting for his next opportunity, and it has come with a Bills team that is looking for help on defense against the run.
At his best, Mathis is a stout run defender who can clog running lanes, opening the door for his teammates to make big plays. With that in mind, Buffalo is taking a flier on Mathis to see if they can help him realize his potential, as the team announced that it had signed him to its practice squad ahead of Week 2.
“Signed DT Phidarian Mathis to the practice squad,” the Bills’ official public relations account said in a post on X.
Bills Hoping to Develop Phidarian Mathis Behind the Scenes
Phidarian Mathis, Commanders
GettyFormer Washington Commanders defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis reacting in the middle of an NFL game.
Mathis has looked nothing like the player he was when he starred for the Alabama Crimson Tide during his collegiate days, but the Bills believe they can work on molding him into a contributor. And with defensive linemen Larry Ogunjobi and Michael Hoecht both suspended currently and DeWayne Carter hitting injured reserve after tearing his Achilles tendon before the start of the season, the team needed depth at this spot anyway.
As a practice squad player, there’s no guarantee that Mathis will play for Buffalo, but if he can show flashes of his potential, that will give the team reason to continue working with him as the year progresses. For now, the Bills’ primary goal will be to prepare for their Week 2 clash with the New York Jets, but Mathis will be a player worth keeping tabs on during his time in town.