It’s the calm before the storm as teams around the NFL, including the Buffalo Bills, are signing additional players to their practice squads.
The purpose of a practice squad is to have players who would be available and ready to fill in as either a depth piece or become an instant starter if needed.
Former Kansas City Chiefs backup quarterback Shane Buechele was brought into the Buffalo Bills practice squad as an extra arm because third-string quarterback Matt Barkley suffered a season-ending elbow injury during the preseason.
Linebacker Christian Kirksey was also brought to the practice squad from the Houston Texans to add help to their middle linebacker depth. The one caveat, however, is at the time of his signing, Kirksey had not passed his physical yet. As a result, the team released veteran AJ Klein.
Former Chiefs QB Shane Buechele (12) – Ed Zurga/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shane Buechele
Before he arrived at Orchard Park, the 25-year-old signal caller won a Super Bowl Ring learning behind superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes with the Kansas City Chiefs. Before he was undrafted in 2021, Buechele’s college career started off strong in his Freshman year at Texas.
In his first year as a Longhorn, Buechele threw for 21 TDs and 11 ints and looked like he was on his way to becoming one of the next great QBs in Austin, Texas.
After battling injuries in 2017-18 and going back and forth between playing and watching behind Sam Ehlinger (current backup for the Indianapolis Colts), Buechele transferred to SMU, where he threw for 7,023 yards, 57 TDs, and 16 ints in his two seasons in a Mustang uniform.
What he brought to Kansas City
While he never became the Chiefs starter, he did serve his purpose of being another young arm in the lineup. At 6’0″, 210 lbs., Buechele is small but is very athletic and was another run pass-option, dual-threat quarterback.
He also carries himself like a winner. Sure, he may have been labeled “Mahomes’s right-hand man,” but that is a litmus test as he is still trying to carve his own path as an NFL quarterback.
What he will bring to the Buffalo Bills
Buechele will be the same quarterback he was with the Chiefs. But instead, he will be another arm behind Josh Allen, which is really no transition from Mahomes.
He also brings that body of work and a Super Bowl ring as a backup, so hopefully, that trend will continue, and he will win another ring, but in Orchard Park this time.
Elway Connection
Yes, you heard that right: John Elway has a special connection to the Buechele family. Shane’s father Steve, while playing college baseball for the Stanford Cardinals, roomed with Elway, who everybody knew later on went to win back-back Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos.
Meanwhile, Steve ended up playing in the MLB for ten years (1985-1995) and is currently a TV analyst for the Texas Rangers.
Former Texans Linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) – Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Christian Kirksey
The Buffalo Bills signed veteran linebacker Christian Kirksey (31) as another addition to their practice squad. He brings with him nine years of NFL experience.
The reliable linebacker started his career in 2014 as a third-round pick by the Cleveland Browns and played there for six seasons. He then moved to Green Bay for one year and went to Houston, where he has been for the last two seasons.
What he brought to Houston
The 6’2″, 235 lb. linebacker played in all 17 games with the Houston Texans last season in a disappointing year. Kirksey was slated to make the roster again this season, but it was a foregone conclusion that he would be cut when Will Anderson showed Houston everything he was advertised as their number three selection in the 2023 NFL draft.
Despite the team’s struggles during his time there, Kirksey brought veteran leadership and a pass-rushing ability to a team set up to fail last year under now-former head coach Lovie Smith.
While Kirksey did impress new head coach DeMeco Ryans this preseason, it was clear that Ryans wants more youth and speed at that position now that he’s in charge of the team.
What He’ll Bring to the Buffalo Bills
Kirksey is your typical edge-rushing type of linebacker. He is small for his position, but he is very fast off the line of scrimmage. He can also rush the passer, which is the recipe for a successful defense in Sean McDermott’s scheme.
Right now, Kirksey will have a short time to impress his coaches and learn the plays to contribute to the team. Hopefully, being friends and a former college teammate at the University of Iowa with (S) Micah Hyde and a teammate of (S) Jordan Poyer with the Cleveland Browns will help.
Opinion
Overall, I like both signings, but my favorite one of the two would have to be bringing in Buechele as another athletic quarterback arm in a room of already talented and athletic signal callers.
Barkley served his purpose as a veteran mentor to Allen, but he lacks actual running ability despite knowing how to run this scheme.
