297 SHARES Share Tweet

As the Buffalo Bills linebacker corps and defensive line continues to be beset by untimely injuries, the organization has elected to sign another outside free agent to provide the necessary depth for the upcoming regular season.

Kroy Biermann has spent the previous nine years of his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons, but he will be joining the Bills on a one-year contract and the signing was made official on Monday.

Reggie Ragland, the team’s highly touted second-round draft pick out of Alabama, suffered a season-ending injury to his knee and the team has already dipped into the free agent to add NFL veterans David Hawthorne and Brandon Spikes to their injury-riddled defensive front seven.

While Biermann did visit the Bills during the initial free agency period, he left without being offered a contract by Buffalo or any other NFL team. The 30-year-old has carved a long term career for himself after being chosen in the 5th round by the Falcons and has tallied 37 starts among the 104 games that he has played.

The team has spent the majority of the off season stricken by injury, as first round selection Shaq Lawson (formerly of Clemson) underwent a shoulder surgery, leaving the Bills without a replacement for the departed Mario Williams.

Manny Lawson, who was then expected to move up on the depth chart in Shaq’s absence, tore a pectoral muscle and his status for the regular season opener is currently up in the air, as he has yet to return to practice.

IK Enemkpali, the proverbial next man up, tore his ACL during Buffalo’s preseason contest and is also done for the year. In the meantime, special teams stalwart Lorenzo Alexander will be practicing with the first team until the new additions are fully up to speed.