No reunion for the Buffalo Bills and the fourth-highest sack total in franchise history

It’s unclear whether or not the Buffalo Bills will use their remaining salary space to add an edge rusher, but it’s clear that a reunion with Jerry Hughes is not in the cards.

Hughes, who turns 36 on Aug. 13, has re-signed with the Houston Texans, according to an NFL press release. After nine seasons as a Bill, Hughes spent two consecutive years in Houston.

In 144 career games (127 as a start) for Buffalo, Hughes recorded 53.0 sacks, the fourth-most in Bills history. The 2010 first-round pick was traded to the Bills by the Indianapolis Colts in a 2013 trade for linebacker Kelvin Sheppard. Only Bruce Smith, Aaron Schobel and Phil Hansen have recorded more sacks in a Buffalo uniform than Hughes.

The aging Hughes hasn’t missed a game in two seasons with the Texans. After averaging 9.0 sacks in 2022, his role was somewhat reduced last year. Playing 42 percent of the defensive snaps, the grizzled veteran recorded 3.0 sacks.

The Bills will face old friend Hughes on a Week 5 road trip to the Lone Star State in a battle of defending division champions on Oct. 6.

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So far, Buffalo’s management seems happy with its current defensive end rotation, which largely relies on Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa and a hopeful Von Miller. The Bills (54.0) ranked fourth among NFL teams in sacks in 2023.

In addition to re-signing Epenesa, Buffalo took advantage of former Jacksonville third-round pick Dawuane Smoot and Philadelphia seventh-round pick Casey Toohill. The Bills also selected Troy sack king Javon Solomon in the fifth round last April.

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