Bills release RB Karlos Williams with his weight reportedly rising again
Karlos Williams’ “baby weight” was a fun joke over the summer. Now it’s serious business.
The Buffalo Bills have released second-year running back Karlos Williams, who had a strong rookie season when he played, after he struggled to keep his weight in check. The move happened just hours before the Bills took on the New York Giants in a preseason game on Saturday.
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Williams was mocked for ballooning up with his fiancée pregnant over the summer, but after getting back in shape before camp Williams reportedly let himself go again recently, which the Bills’ brass took as a sign that he wasn’t serious about football.
Even considering that, the move comes as a surprise. Head coach Rex Ryan said he wasn’t giving up on Williams, even after Williams was suspended the first four games of the season this summer for performance-enhancing drugs.
You could understand why Ryan would want to keep Williams after a strong rookie showing — 517 rushing yards, seven touchdowns and 5.6 yards per carry. He figured into the team’s plans prominently even with good depth at the position.
The Bills should be fine with holdovers LeSean McCoy, Mike Gillislee and James Wilder Jr., plus fifth-round pick Jonathan Williams and the recently signed Reggie Bush on the roster. But it’s not as if Williams didn’t have promise that the Bills were excited about.
It appears Williams was watching the game against the Giants despite receiving Saturday’s bad news.
Touchdown shady. ???????????? that's my captain
— Karlos Williams Sr (@Karlos_29_SR) August 20, 2016
What a mess of an offseason, one which Ryan said the Bills won. The Williams news drops on the same day that star defensive tackle Marcel Dareus reportedly entered rehab.
Some other team should give Williams a shot, even with his issues. Heck, maybe Ryan is doing him a favor — the wake-up call Williams needs. But the team that takes him on must be prepared to take on a bit of extra, um, baggage.
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!
