Isaiah

Buggs

Buggs was released by the Chiefs earlier this offseason after two arrests in Alabama. Buggs’ conviction of misdemeanor animal cruelty comes after two malnourished dogs were found on a property the lineman was renting. One of the dogs was euthanized as a result. Hard labor, as defined by Alabama law, is “labor on the public roads, public bridges, and other public works in the county.” Buggs is still facing charges for a domestic violence/burglary incident that he was arrested for earlier this offseason.

This one felt inevitable. Over the last month, Buggs has been charged with misdemeanor cruelty to dogs in the second degree and was arrested last week on domestic violence and burglary charges. The sixth-year pro never played a regular-season game with the Chiefs and is unlikely to see action anytime soon as he sorts out these legal issues. Buggs played in 10 games for the Lions last season before being released, totaling 12 tackles, two TFLs, and one sack. Buggs remains in jail after last week’s arrest.

Buggs has been arrested twice in less than a month after misdemeanor charges were filed against him on May 29 for cruelty to dogs in the second degree. According to an article by ESPN, Buggs was booked into the Tuscaloosa County jail and later released on a $5,000 bond. Buggs appeared in 10 games last season for the Lions and was signed to the Chiefs practice squad in January 2024, shortly after the Lions released him. We don’t know much about this incident outside of Buggs’ arrest and release, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Chiefs cut ties with him in the coming days given the recent string of events.

Buggs was charged in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, where he played college football for the Crimson Tide. Court documents say that two dogs were found on the porch of a home rented by Buggs with no access to food or water. Buggs’ agent, Trey Robinson, denies the charges, saying the dogs do not belong to Buggs and the charges are part of a campaign to force the closure of a hookah lounge he owns in Tuscaloosa. Robinson also stated that Buggs was arrested on misdemeanor chargers twice in the past two months at his hookah lounge, but no public record was made of these arrests. He maintains that this is part of a campaign to force him to surrender his business license. Buggs started his career with three seasons in Pittsburgh, then two with the Lions before joining the Chiefs’ practice squad in January and then re-signing on a futures contract. He is the latest Chief to face legal troubles this offseason.

Buggs said news of him not playing int he Week 1 opener came as a surprise to him, but that he plans to do whatever the team asks of him in the meantime. Buggs signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Lions earlier this offseason, but found himself in a bit of hot water over the weekend when he posted to social media, “I’m Good But Just Know Situations Change #96BallForever Yall Gone See.” It sounds as if Buggs and the Lions have a few things to work through. For now, we’ll see how things change between now and Week 2 when they play host to the Seahawks.

Buggs joined the Lions in 2022 and turned in a career year. The former sixth-round pick posted a career-high 46 tackles while recording two passes defensed and forcing one fumble. Buggs started 13 of 17 games for the Lions last season and is a serviceable run-stopper.

Buggs played in 29 regular season games for Pittsburgh over three seasons, mostly as a rotational run stuffer. He started six games for the Steelers in 2021 before missing the final two months of the season with an injury. He’ll join a Detroit defensive line graded by Pro Football Focus as last season’s worst run-stopping unit.

T.J. Watt, activated from the COVID-19 list on Saturday, will play in Week 13. As they were in last week’s lopsided loss to the Bengals, the Steelers will be without top CB Haden and run stuffer Buggs. Their absence increases the chances for this game to turn into a back-and-forth affair against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.

Pittsburgh will be without its starting nose tackle against a resurgent and recently run heavy Bengals offense. They’ll also miss Joe Haden, who is sidelined with a foot injury.

Buggs (6’3/306) spent two seasons with the Crimson Tide after transferring from JUCO, starting both years and tallying 17.5 career tackles for loss with 11 sacks and two forced fumbles. An overachiever with fringe-NFL athleticism, Buggs’ likely ceiling is a replacement-level interior-only presence. Buggs would do quite well to mimic Brandon Mebane’s career.