Ike

Boettger

Anderson was a 2021 sixth round pick of the Buffalo Bills out of Texas Tech. He was a four-star, top-100 overall recruit in the 2017 class who possesses the ideal strength and frame for a power-running scheme. Another former Buffalo Bills offensive lineman, Ike Boettger, was released to make room for Anderson.

Hurt most of last year, Boettger played just six snaps as a reserve for Buffalo in 2022, though he did play a major role in both 2021 and 2020. He’s likely to remain a depth player on the line for the Bills this coming season, though perhaps if Rodger Saffold heads out and Buffalo can’t afford a better upgrade, Boettger could challenge for a job inside.

White is coming off a Week 12 torn ACL and the expectation all along has been that he’d miss most, if not all, of training camp. Sean McDermott noted that he “remains on schedule with his rehab.” Boettger is coming off a ruptured Achilles in Week 16. We have no record of what is currently ailing Ankou.

The contract terms are not yet known. Boettger suffered an Achilles tear in the Bills’ December 26th playoff game against the Patriots. Despite the new contract, his status for 2022 remains questionable. It’s likely that he will begin the season on the reserve/PUP list, which would cost him a minimum of six games. Once healthy he could provide the Bills with capable offensive line depth.

So not only will Boettger not return to the game, he is out for the rest of the season and highly questionable for 2022. In a best-case scenario, Boettger probably returns after spending the first six games on the reserve/PUP list. His loss today shifts the Bills’ line to: LT Dion Dawkins, LG Ryan Bates, C Mitch Morse, RG Daryl Williams and RT Spencer Brown. A 2018 UDFA in his second year as a starter, Boettger has been something of a weak link this year, if not an outright liability. The 27-year-old is headed for restricted free agency in the offseason.

26-year-old Boettger was undrafted out of Iowa, so the Bills merely have the right of first refusal. He’d never started a game prior to 2020 but ended up making seven starts across 12 appearances while grading out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 36 guard, receiving strong marks for his run blocking. Boettger will likely face competition in 2021, but he’s obviously earned a shot at the gig with the Bills keeping cohesiveness up front.