Report: Shawne Merriman Signs With Bills as Buffalo Desperately Tries to Shore Up Defense

The Buffalo Bills knew something had to happen after posting back-to-back weeks of some of the worst defensive performances in NFL history.

Signing a retread who couldn’t make the cut in training camp may not be it, but it’s certainly a start.

Shawne Merriman, who was cut coming out of camp despite saying he was in the best shape in years, is reportedly back with the Bills.

Buffalo has needed serious help in all facets of its defense, and Merriman, who knows the team’s system, could be a suitable stopgap as the team looks for more help.

The 3-3 Bills beat the Arizona Cardinals 19-16 in overtime on Sunday, with perhaps the biggest victory from the win being that they did not allow at least 45 points or 580 total yards, as they had in the two weeks prior.

Merriman, once a standout pass-rushing linebacker with the Chargers, was picked up by the Bills in 2010 off waivers after injuries ended his career in San Diego. He signed a two-year, $10.5 million deal with Buffalo in early 2011 but never regained the form that had made him the Pro Bowl defender he was with the Chargers.