PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills are continuing their offseason trend of stockpiling speedy receivers by signing Andy Isabella on Friday.
Having yet to play up to expectations during his first four NFL seasons, the 26-year-old Isabella gets a chance for a fresh start working in a Josh Allen-led offense in Buffalo. The signing came three days after he was released by the Baltimore Ravens, and following Buffalo's third day of training camp in suburban Rochester, New York.
He closed last season appearing in two games with the Ravens after being waived by the Arizona Cardinals.
At 5-foot-9, Isabella was selected by Arizona in the second round of the 2019 draft following a senior season at UMass in which he led the nation with 141.5 yards receiving per game and ranked second with 102 catches. The 2015 Ohio high school track champion struggled at the NFL level, combining for 33 catches for 447 yards and three touchdowns in 41 career games.
Isabella now joins a crowded Stefon Diggs-headed receiver room that includes the offseason free-agent additions of speedsters Deonte Harty and Trent Sherfield. He will also be given an opportunity to fill Buffalo's returner's job, which is open after Nyheim Hines sustained a season-ending knee injury during a recent jet ski accident.
The Bills are placing a premium on adding speed to an offense that had difficulty stretching opposing defenses in the second half of last season.
Second-year offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey also noted he’s placing an emphasis on improving his unit’s yards-after-catch production. Though the Bills ranked second in the NFL in yards offense last year, they finished 13th in YAC, according to Statmuse.com.
The Bills, who return to practice on Sunday, opened a roster spot for Isabella by releasing receiver Jalen Wayne.
In a separate move on Friday, Buffalo signed cornerback Kyron Brown and designated cornerback Cam Dantzler as waived/injured, without disclosing the nature of his injury. Dantzler had 26 starts in 35 games over the previous three seasons with Minnesota before signing with the Bills last month.
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