Alex

Carrington

The Rams will be next on his visit list, assuming he gets out of Oakland. Carrington visited the Steelers late last week, and has also drawn interest from the Browns. The 27-year-old (in June) is an effective pass rusher when healthy.

The 72nd pick in the 2010 draft, Carrington worked with Buffalo’s third-team defense at OTAs and simply hasn’t earned enough playing time for job security. If he did miss the cut, Carrington would be an attractive waiver claim for 3-4 teams.

The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Carrington was drafted with the 72nd overall pick in 2010, when the Bills were still trying to implement a 3-4 defense. He was a “five technique,” defensive end prospect. Carrington struggled in roughly 490 defensive snaps last season, and his role may further decline this year.

On the roster bubble entering August, Carrington impressed head coach Chan Gailey with his consistency during camp. Carrington had played both DE and OLB in the Bills 3-4 scheme, and now sits fourth on the DT depth chart behind starters Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus and nine-year veteran Spencer Johnson.

Carrington was an underrated force as a rotational lineman behind Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus in the Bills’ 4-3 defense, but his role in new DC Mike Pettine’s system remains unclear with the addition of Alan Branch. He previously played both defensive end and outside linebacker in 3-4 packages.

A favorite of the website Pro Football Focus, Carrington has been an effective per-play pass rusher as an interior defensive lineman, but struggled as a 3-4 end. New Bills DC Mike Pettine appears to be viewing Carrington as an inside pass rusher in nickel and dime alignments. Carrington is in his contract year.

Marcus Stroud manned the other end spot, with Kyle Williams at nose tackle. Edwards failed physicals for other teams before signing, but he insists he’s perfectly healthy. Johnson will stay in a rotational lineman role this year, fighting promising third-round pick Alex Carrington for snaps.

The extent is unknown, but the Bills also lost DT Marcell Dareus (ankle) during the game and have the most banged-up defense in football at the moment. They’re playing the Ravens in Week 3. Carrington is Buffalo’s starting left end.

It’s not a knee injury as originally reported, but the end result is as bad as imagined. Carrington had been playing heavy snaps as Buffalo’s starting left end. The Bills have the most banged-up defense in football. Carrington, an impressive 26-year-old with D-Line versatility, is scheduled for free agency in 2014.

As a versatile down lineman who turns 27 in June, Carrington could be a value pickup for a savvy team. He missed most of last season with a torn quad, but was a highly efficient interior pass rusher in 2012 and can play both tackle and end. Perhaps new Browns coach Mike Pettine will pursue Carrington to rush the passer in sub-packages. Pettine was his defensive coordinator in Buffalo.