Buffalo Bills Roster, Injury News 2017: Running Back Taiwan Jones Out for the Season with a Broken Arm
It's official. Special team ace Taiwan Jones' first season with the Buffalo Bills has ended earlier than expected.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott has confirmed that Jones will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a broken left arm in Thursday night's 34–21 loss to the New York Jets. The team has already placed the seventh-year running back on the injured reserve list.
Jones was attempting to recover an onside kick attempt in the second half of the game when his own teammate, safety Shamarko Thomas, dove into his arm while it was flexed on the turf. The running back was in a lot of pain and trainers had to immobilize his injured arm before they took him off the field on a cart.
The seventh-year pro has appeared in eight games for the Bills this season, mostly on special teams, and he has recorded three special teams tackles and two kickoff returns for 50 yards. He will finish the season with just one reception for 11 yards, but that one reception was crucial and it helped them win the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 22.
"His one offensive gain was a big one, as he picked up 11 yards on a third down late in the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that helped Buffalo set up Stephen Hauschka's game-winning field goal," Sean C. Murphy said in his column for Buffalo Rumblings.
Meanwhile, the Bills have announced that they have signed former New Orleans Saints running back Travaris Cadet to take Jones' place on the roster.
Cadet has made 105 receptions for 866 yards in his six seasons in the league, and he has recorded seven touchdowns while playing as a wide receiver. The Appalachian State standout also has 87 rushing yards on 27 carries.
58 of Cadet's 66 games in the National Football League (NFL) were with the Saints.