Buffalo had a returner problem, plain and simple, and it looked like they might have fixed it right after NFL cutdown day. The Bills are set to sign veteran receiver and special teams weapon Greg Dortch to their practice squad, a move confirmed by Ryan Talbot that could pay off big time for them.
Fixing the Return Game Mess
This dude is a bona fide veteran returner. Dortch has 99 punt returns and 75 kick returns in his career, clocking in at 174 total. Sure, he’s coughed up the ball six times on those returns, but his punt return average last season was 11.6 yards, good for 11th in the league. That marked his fourth straight season upping that average, and the first time he cracked double-digit yardage. If Buffalo needed consistency and experience back there, Dortch definitely brings it.
A YAC Machine for the Offense
But let’s not sleep on Dortch as a receiver, because that’s where things get really interesting. In 2022, he snagged 52 receptions for 467 yards and two touchdowns on 42.5% of the Cardinals’ snaps. While his snap count dipped after that, averaging 34 catches for 313 yards and three scores a year for the next three seasons, his production per touch is absurd. Dortch is super sure-handed, dropping only four passes on 184 targets. For a 5’7”, 175-pound guy, his 40% contested-catch win rate is impressive. What really makes him special, though, is what he does with the ball once it’s in his hands. Last season, on only 29 receptions, he forced 12 missed tackles. Think about that: Jameson Williams forced the same amount of missed tackles on 65 catches in the regular season. In 2024, Dortch forced 13 missed tackles on a mere 37 catches, a number Ladd McConkey needed 82 receptions to hit. This guy is a YAC monster, a twitchy, underneath option that defenders absolutely do not want to see in open space.
Dortch is 28 years old, and about two-thirds of his career snaps have come from the slot. This could open up a ton of pre-snap alignment options for the Bills, especially giving Khalil Shakir some flexibility after appearing inside on over 70% of his snaps the past three seasons. This move addresses a clear need and adds a serious playmaker. It will be exciting to see how Buffalo uses him as the regular season kicks off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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