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Bills sign LB Otis Reese, put LB Demetirus Flannigan-Fowles on IR

Bills sign linebacker Otis Reese, place linebacker Demetirus Flannigan-Fowles on injured reserve

First seen Aug 06, 2026 · 1:08 PM UTC · last updated Aug 06 1:23 PM

Scoring Zone's Take

Otis Reese's signing and Demetirus Flannigan-Fowles landing on injured reserve is a pure depth-chart transaction with no real fantasy relevance for either player heading into draft season. Both are linebackers, and linebackers outside of elite tackle-heavy names in specific IDP formats simply don't carry standalone value in standard redraft leagues. Flannigan-Fowles' IR placement effectively ends any shot he had at carving out a role this year, and Reese's addition is best read as roster churn to fill a numbers void created by that injury.

For your draft prep, neither name should occupy a roster spot or a late-round flier unless you're in a deep IDP league that starts linebackers individually. Even then, Reese arriving via a straight signing (not a trade or a promotion tied to expanded role language) suggests camp-body/special-teams competition rather than a projected starting job. There's nothing in the reporting about snap counts, depth chart tiers, or coaching staff comments that would elevate either player's outlook.

Confidence here is capped by the sources themselves — both carry only 50% confidence and are transaction blurbs without context on Reese's expected role or the severity/timeline of Flannigan-Fowles' injury. Treat this as informational noise for standard fantasy purposes: no add, no drop, no stash. If you're in a deep IDP league, keep Reese on your watchlist only if beat reporters later attach him to a starting role during camp; otherwise, this is a non-event for your draft board.

Linebacker Otis Reese spent some time on the Bills' practice squad last year and he's back in Buffalo trying to earn a spot on the roster this summer.

Coverage from Yahoo Sports Nfl · read original