The Sports Xchange

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, fresh off serving a one-game suspension and signing a mega six-year, $100 million contract extension last week, can’t wait to make his season debut, and he’s glad it’s with Buffalo.

“It always feels good to be wanted,” he said. “To know that the Buffalo Bills, they committed to me, like I have been committed to them. We are doing what we promised what we want to do with each other. I want to be a Buffalo Bill and they are making sure that I am going to be here. I am just so excited and happy to be here. Just so excited to be with these guys. Last week just really took a lot out of me not being here, just really excited to be back.”

The Bills did not miss Dareus against the Indianapolis Colts as Corbin Bryant stepped in and the defense really didn’t skip a beat. However, getting the two-time Pro Bowler back makes the entire defense better because he commands so much attention at the point of attack.

“Yeah, it’s always great to have a really good player back with you,” said fellow defensive tackle Kyle Williams. “He helps us even more. And we are excited to have him back; couldn’t come at a better time.”

— The Bills released running back Bryce Brown on Tuesday to make room on the 53-man roster for Dareus. Brown was acquired during the 2014 draft from Philadelphia. The teams swapped seventh-round positions in that draft, and the Bills also sent a 2015 fourth-rounder to the Eagles, a pick Philadelphia ultimately traded.

Brown had 190 carries for 878 yards and six touchdowns in 32 games over two seasons with the Eagles, and he was looked upon as a solid option for Buffalo’s future knowing that C.J. Spiller would likely leave the team via free agency at the end of 2014, which he did, going to New Orleans.

But Brown never made a significant impact. He saw action in only seven games last year, starting two in the middle of the season, and he gained 126 yards on 36 carries, and caught 16 passes for 176 yards. His signature play, of course, was his fumble at the goal line in the game against Kansas City which went a long way toward Buffalo losing that game. The Bills now have just LeSean McCoy, Karlos Williams and Boobie Dixon on the active roster.

— The release of Brown, on top of the release of Fred Jackson a month ago, is a clear indication of how much the Bills like Williams, the rookie fifth-round pick from Florida State. Williams made a smashing NFL debut Sunday as he bolted 26 yards for a touchdown on his first career carry. He became the first player since Michael Westbrook of the Redskins in 1995 to score a touchdown on a play of at least 20 yards on his first career NFL touch. Amazingly, the feat was matched later on Sunday when Detroit rookie Ameer Abdullah ran 24 yards for a touchdown on his first NFL carry.

“That’s what we drafted him for,” general manager Doug Whaley said. “Our definition of a fifth-round pick is a guy who can contribute on (special) teams while he grows as a player. It’s a value pick; he can give you a lot of things between special teams and running, and what’s impressed us most is him being able to pick up blitzes and blocking because usually that’s the toughest thing for a running back to get as quickly as he’s gotten it.”