Arthur

Moats

He has been out of the league since being released with an injury settlement by the Cardinals in 2018. Moats spent half of his eight-year career with the Bills, who drafted him in the sixth round in 2010, and the other half with the Steelers. He finishes his NFL career with 202 tackles and 16.5 sacks.

Moats landed on I.R. in late August with a sprained MCL. The 30-year-old reserve will hunt for reserve work.

The Bills are finally succeeding in keeping their own, locking up their fourth impending free agent in five days. Morrison played 14 games as a reserve last season, but he’s viewed as the favorite over Arthur Moats to start at strong-side linebacker in Dave Wannstedt’s 4-3 defense. The 30-year-old has started 95 of 110 career games.

Nick Barnett will be a three-down backer on the weak side, and Chris Kelsay will presumably move back to defensive end. Moats is tentatively penciled in as the starter, though the Bills are expected to target a speedy outside linebacker in the draft.

Moats has experience inside from his ILB days in the old 3-4. He’d probably be an interior, stand-up pass rusher if used at middle linebacker in the new 4-3. Moats will be a reserve regardless, as Kirk Morrison appears locked in as the starter on the strong side. Moats has yet to shed his ‘tweener label in Buffalo.

Moats will start Thursday’s preseason opener. Although Morrison was billed as the pre-camp favorite, we’re not surprised Moats overtook him because he offers superior athleticism and big-play ability. While the SAM backer is unlikely to accrue IDP value, he certainly could boost Buffalo’s fantasy defense. With Mario Williams in the fold, it’s more appealing than one might think.

Morrison had started 95-of-96 games over six years before playing just 55 of 1,001 defensive snaps in 2011. The 30-year-old averaged 100 tackles per season as the middle linebacker in Oakland, but he does have experience in all three 4-3 linebacker spots. Arthur Moats will continue to be a reserve and special teamer behind Morrison.

Kirk Morrison was believed to be locked in, but a strong offseason has put Moats in the conversation. A sixth-round pick in 2010, the 6'2/250 Moats has five career sacks in 29 games. Morrison is still considered the favorite for now.

With Chris Kelsay and Mark Anderson both out, Buffalo has just Kyle Moore, Shawne Merriman and Mario Williams at defensive end. Moats has experience playing the position from his college days at James Madison, and practiced with the defensive line on Friday. “He’s a linebacker, but if you get in a pinch he needs to know what to do. So we worked him for a few snaps in practice this week just in case something has to happen there,” said coach Chan Gailey.

Moats has bounced around between the inside and outside ‘backer spots all season. But the Bills need him as a pass rusher for now -- they have just five sacks through five games. Moats recorded 2 1/2 sacks as a rookie last season.