Buffalo Bills place former 1st-round pick on season-ending IR

Shane Ray’s NFL comeback attempt with the Buffalo Bills ended on Saturday night in the team’s preseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

During the game, Ray, 30, suffered a hamstring injury. The veteran pass-rusher likely knew the injury was serious as ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg reported that Ray was emotional in the locker room following the injury and was comforted by multiple teammates. On Monday, Buffalo placed Ray on the injured reserve ending his season.

Ray was originally a first round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2015. As a rookie, the pass rusher recorded four sacks on the Super Bowl winning Broncos team coming off of the bench. He recorded four sacks coming off of the bench in 15 games. Ray broke out in his second season recording eight sacks in eight starts and scoring a defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery that was forced by Von Miller.

Unfortunately for Ray, injuries would plague him after his second season. He was limited to 19 games over the next two seasons due to wrist injuries that required at least four surgeries. His contract would expire with the Broncos and an attempt to make the Baltimore Ravens’ roster ended in Ray being in the team’s final cuts in 2019.

Ray did not play anywhere during the pandemic year of 2020. He resurfaced in the CFL in 2021 and played two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts before getting a tryout with the Bills that resulted in him signing with the team in May.

Although Ray’s latest comeback attempt fell short due to injury, the pass-rusher flashed at times during the team’s training camp practices. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Ray did enough in his few months with Buffalo to get another crack at making the roster in 2024.

READ MORE

Who is Ty Johnson? New Buffalo Bills RB had ‘dark, dark days’ following release from Jets (6 things to know)

Stefon Diggs responds to Stephen A. Smith, who said Bills receiver wants out of Buffalo

Bills…