Buffalo Bills agree to sign linebacker Brandon Spikes

Former Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes did not play in the National Football League last season, but he’s returning to a team he knows a little bit about – the Buffalo Bills.

Buffalo also signed tight end Jimmay Mundine on Sunday. But the National Football League also confirmed that Spikes served his four-game suspension as a free agent, so that won’t be a factor in 2016. And it’s an opportunity for him to resume his career after sitting out last season.

Spikes was to play for the Patriots in 2015, but he was released by New England following his involvement in a hit-and-run accident.

Rookie Reggie Ragland, a projected starter, hurt his left knee on Friday, and his status remains uncertain.

“The truth of the matter is that we’ve got to let the swelling go down and then obviously the doctors will go from there”, said Ryan of Ragland’s condition. He’s regarded as a hard-hitting player whose specialty is defending against the run. Hawthorne comes to Buffalo from the New Orleans Saints after four seasons with the team. He was coached by current Bills defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who had the same role with the team from 2013 to 2015.

Hawthorne had five starts in 11 games previous year before being cut by the Saints in December.

In addition, linebackers Jamari Lattimore (broken nose) and Kevin Reddick (knee) have been out of practice with injuries. He has started every single game that he has played in since his debut in the 2009 season with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Bills are also thin at outside linebacker, with rookie first-round pick Shaq Lawson expected to miss at least the first month of the season after having shoulder surgery in May.

Mundine was an undrafted rookie free agent past year, and signed with New England before being cut before the start of the regular season. The twenty-four year old was also third all-time for Kansas in both receptions with 86 and receiving yards with 1,082.