After a two-year hiatus from the NFL, defensive end Shane Ray has signed with the Buffalo Bills. Ray was picked in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos, where he played for four seasons. He played in 49 games, starting 15, and recorded 14 sacks, 94 tackles, and 33 quarterback hits. He was also part of the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50-winning team, where he forced a fumble.
Ray’s Struggles
In 2017, Ray suffered a left wrist injury that required surgery, which affected his performance in the following seasons. He was eventually cut by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2019 offseason and played for the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts in 2021 and 2022. Ray shared his struggles on his Instagram account, saying that he had “sleepless nights, depression, everything that comes with losing the game.”
Ray’s Resilience
Despite the challenges he faced, Ray never lost faith in himself. He wrote on Instagram that “even in my darkest moments, I believed in myself. I believed in my preparation. I believed that I would have another opportunity even if the world didn’t believe.” Ray’s perseverance paid off, as he was able to impress the Bills during the rookie minicamp tryouts and earn a spot on the team.
Buffalo Bills Signings
In addition to signing Ray, the Bills also signed former UCF running back Isaiah Bowser and linebacker Travin Howard. Howard was a seventh-round pick by the Rams in 2018 and played in 29 games with Los Angeles. The Bills are hoping that these signings will help bolster their defense and improve their chances of making a deep playoff run.
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