The Bills have promoted tight end Gerald Christian from their practice squad, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. In corresponding moves, Buffalo has waived fellow tight end Manasseh Garner and wide receiver Ed Eagan.
[RELATED: LeSean McCoy Unlikely To Play Sunday]
This is the second promotion of the year for Christian, who has shuffled in and out of the Bills organization since originally joining the practice squad Sept. 7. Christian previously suited up for the Bills’ Week 5 win over the Rams, but he only played five snaps and didn’t record any statistics. The second-year man and former Cardinal will provide depth this week behind Charles Clay and Nick O’Leary as the 4-3 Bills host the AFC East rival Patriots (6-1).
Garner, formerly with the Broncos, signed with the Bills’ practice squad on Oct. 5 and earned a promotion for the club’s game in Miami last week. The 24-year-old didn’t see any action, however, as the Bills fell 28-25.
Eagan was set to suit up for the Bills this Sunday after receiving a promotion (and a comparison to Wes Welker from head coach Rex Ryan), but it turns out that won’t be the case for the undrafted rookie from Northwestern State. Although the Bills are perilously thin at receiver, where they’ve gone without Sammy Watkins for most of the season and are also dealing with injuries to Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin, that wasn’t enough to keep the 5-foot-10, 193-pound Eagan in the fold.