As a way to clear roster spots in moving down to the required 80-man limit, teams can begin placing players on the reserve/PUP list Tuesday. The Bills will use this method in trimming their roster to that number.
Offensive lineman Ike Boettger will be moved from the active/PUP list — a preseason-only designation — to the reserve/PUP list, GM Brandon Beane said Tuesday morning (via NFL.com’s Mike Giardi, on Twitter). Boettger will miss at least the first four games of the regular season.
[RELATED: Bills Trade G Cody Ford To Cardinals]
With Boettger suffering an Achilles tear in Week 16, such a move has been on the radar for a while. The Bills added some pieces up front this offseason as well. They signed Rodger Saffold, Greg Van Roten, Greg Mancz and David Quessenberry. They also matched a Bears RFA offer sheet for Ryan Bates, retaining the 2021 starter.
Buffalo also re-signed Boettger to a one-year deal worth $1.19MM ($1MM guaranteed), keeping the former UDFA in the fold. The ex-Iowa blocker started 10 games for the Bills last season, working as a guard. After grading Boettger as a top-40 guard in 2020 — a seven-start year — Pro Football Focus slotted him outside the top 50 among guards last season.
Saffold and Bates are expected to be the team’s guard starters this season. Boettger, 27, should be expected to return at some point during the year. Beane did add that the veteran blocker encountered a setback in his rehab, per The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia (on Twitter). This helps explain the PUP transfer and figures to delay his return.