The Buffalo Bills had a bad day, a very Buffalo Bills-like day.
Rookie defensive end Shaq Lawson, taken 19th overall by the Bills in the NFL Draft, will undergo shoulder surgery and might not make his debut until November. Lawson said prior to the draft he wouldn’t need the surgery, but the Rex Ryan-coached team announced Monday that the procedure will be done for preventative reasons.
“The Buffalo Bills are taking measures to prevent the possibility of Shaq Lawson aggravating a pre-existing shoulder condition during the season,” the team said in a statement. “While he could continue to play, the Bills medical staff has determined that surgery is the best course of action for the overall health of his shoulder moving forward.”
Shortly after the announcement, wide receiver Sammy Watkins, their 2014 first-round pick (fourth overall), was reported to have suffered a broken foot. Multiple reports said the speedy receiver could be back for training camp.
Lawson had said he could have played through the injury and not undergone surgery, but the team lauded his decision to have the procedure done now.
“I want to take this opportunity to commend Shaq Lawson and his representatives for putting the team first by having this surgery on his shoulder done now,” Bills general manager Doug Whaley said in a statement. “By doing so, he’s forsaking personal goals to be 100 percent healthy when we will need him most during the regular season.
“Fans constantly hear us say that we want players with tremendous character who keep team goals ahead of personal ones and Shaq is a great example of this.”