Tommy Doyle clears waivers, returns to Buffalo Bills

Earlier this week, the Buffalo Bills released offensive lineman Tommy Doyle, designating him waived/injured. Although the details of this post have not been made public, we do know that he suffered a serious, season-ending knee injury last preseason.

To say that Doyle had a hard time finding his lucky charm may be an understatement. After suffering a torn ACL in 2022, he returned to the field in time for training camp – then disaster struck again.

Following Doyle’s release, Matt Parrino announced that One Bills Drive made the decision based on medical failure. Once he was released from the Bills, Doyle was cleared off waivers, but was not claimed by any of the other 31 NFL teams.

As such, Doyle has now become a member of the Bills again. Only this time, he lands on the team’s Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

What does this mean for Tommy Doyle’s future with the Buffalo Bills?

Immediately, this means that the door is not closed… completely, at least. If Doyle improves enough to be removed from the PUP list before August 23 of this year (when rosters are reduced to 80 players), that will mean his 2024 season isn’t completely over either. In fact, it would be eligible for immediate activation if it exists on the PUP list before then. If Doyle remains on the PUP list on or after August 23, then he risks automatically missing the Bills’ first four regular season games.

However, it’s fair to wonder if the Bills would have given up on Doyle if they weren’t ready to move on. Maybe he spends the entire 2024 NFL season on Buffalo’s reserve/PUP list, and both sides take their chances next spring/summer.

Right now, the only thing Tommy Doyle can point out is that until he plays for another team or leaves the NFL altogether, he remains a part of the Buffalo Bills organization. For now, at least.

Regarding Doyle’s salary at present, the NFL officially noted that:

A player’s contract will not be charged (meaning the contract will be not be suspended and resumed the following season) while on the PUP, unless he is in the final year of his contract and he is both unable to render football services from of the sixth regular season game And is not activated during this regular season or playoffs.

That’s key for Doyle, who is in the final year of the four-year rookie contract he signed with the Buffalo Bills in 2021.