Jason

Croom

It was a non-contact injury for Croom, spelling the worst for his long-term outlook. With standout reserve TE Tyree Jackson (back) still sidelined for 8-10 weeks, Richard Rodgers and a pending tryout off the streets will likely soak up Croom’s would-be preseason reps.

Eagles S K’Von Wallace has also been ruled out after leaving with a groin injury. It was a non-contact injury for Croom, who was previously in a fierce battle for a roster spot. The Eagles are also missing TE Tyree Jackson – who’s out 8-10 weeks with a back injury – but they still have Dallas Goedert, Zach Ertz, and Richard Rodgers at the position. Croom is out for the game.

The former Bills tight end got some second half playing time with Zach Ertz sidelined by a foot injury. He found himself wide open on the end zone and made the most of his one target. If Ertz can’t play Thursday against the Giants, it would most likely be Richard Rodgers who operates the team’s top tight end. The Eagles use a lot of two-tight end sets, however, meaning Croom will probably be on the field quite a bit if Ertz and Dallas Goedert are out in Week 7.

Croom spent last year on IR after going down in the preseason. He was Buffalo’s top pass-catching tight end in 2018 and will be brought back on a low-risk flyer. Croom joins Tyler Kroft, Tommy Sweeney, and blocking TE Lee Smith as depth options behind Dawson Knox.

The Bills won’t officially make the move until Sunday so the third-year UDFA will be eligible for return. Croom caught 22 balls last season, seven of which came in the Bills’ final three games. Croom’s injury opens the door for third-rounder Dawson Knox to begin the year as a starter. Tyler Kroft is dealing with a foot injury.

This would be the Bills’ second tight end injury of the day with Tyler Kroft breaking his foot earlier. Kroft’s expected recovery time is three to four months, so there’s room for Lee Smith, Croom, or third-rounder Dawson Knox to step up into a bigger role this preseason. The extent of Croom’s injury is unknown, but the stars are aligning for Knox to earn reps as a rookie.

Undrafted and stuck on the practice squad in 2017, Croom finally found the found for the Bills in 2018. Croom secured 22-of-34 targets for 259 yards and a touchdown in his second season, starting four of the final five games. At 246-pounds and a converted wide receiver in college at Tennessee, Croom is a receiving-first tight end that could end up as a career role player given his tweener frame. His role could also continue to expand in 2019, but the Bills should also be expected to add a more traditional run blocking tight end at minimum to their roster if they don’t move in for a passing-game upgrade or challenge to Croom.

The second-year UDFA also lost a fumble as he was fighting for extra yardage inside the Patriots’ 10-yard line. More involved in the second half of the season, Croom has now cleared 25 yards in back-to-back games. Charles Clay was a healthy scratch today and will almost certainly be released in the offseason. Croom is a name to file away as an end-of-bench stash in Dynasty leagues.