With The First Pick
Fansided

Reggie Ragland Likely to Miss the Season

By Carl Cockerham

Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) during the game against the Michigan State Spartans in the 2015 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) during the game against the Michigan State Spartans in the 2015 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Buffalo Bills failed to make the playoffs last year in head coach Rex Ryan’s first year with the team. And uncharacteristically, it was Ryan’s defense that came up short, leading the team to an 8-8 record. The Bills couldn’t stop the run and get after the quarterback.

They have a great secondary and run the ball well so the defensive front-seven became the No. 1 priority. It was so much a priority, the Bills spent their first three picks on the defensive front-seven. OLB Shaq Lawson, (Round 1) ILB Reggie Ragland, (Round 2) and DE Adolphus Washington were the picks.

And GM Doug Whaley came out of the draft expecting all three to start immediately for Buffalo’s defense. But for now, it looks like one of the three will be in the starring lineup immediately. Shaq Lawson underwent shoulder surgery in May, and is expected to return between Week 6 to Week 8.

And Reggie Ragland, who suffered a knee injury in practice last Friday, just found out it’s a partially torn ACL and will likely miss the 2016 season. Meanwhile, Washington is healthy and continues to practice with the first team at defensive end in preparation to start.

The Bills considered themselves lucky in the draft, trading up to take Ragland with the No. 41 overall selection. Whaley said the team considered taking the Alabama linebacker at No. 19 overall but too Shaq Lawson instead and still ended up with Ragland.

But with Lawson out for the first 6-8 weeks of the regulars season and Ragland seemingly out for the season, they don’t seem so lucky.

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