Buffalo Bills fans were dealt a one-two punch of disappointment Monday afternoon — and the season doesn’t even begin for another four months.
First came the announcement that defensive end Shaq Lawson, Buffalo’s top pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, would undergo preemptive shoulder surgery Tuesday.
“The Buffalo Bills are taking measures to prevent the possibility of Shaq Lawson aggravating a pre-existing shoulder condition during the season,” the team said in a statement. “While he could continue to play, the Bills medical staff has determined that surgery is the best course of action for the overall health of his shoulder moving forward.”
Lawson, whom the Bills drafted 19th overall last month, is expected to miss five to six months, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, meaning the lineman likely will be sidelined for at least the first month of his rookie season.
Mere hours after the announcement of Lawson’s impending surgery, Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News reported wide receiver Sammy Watkins had surgery earlier this offseason to repair a broken bone in his foot. The Bills later confirmed that report but said they expect Watkins to be ready for Week 1.
Watkins, the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, led the Bills in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in each of the last two seasons. Losing him for any amount of time obviously would be a major blow to a Buffalo team that’s seeking its first playoff berth since 1999.
Thumbnail photo via Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports Images
