The San Francisco 49ers face the Buffalo Bills in Week 6, and it appears the Bills will be without one of their key rookies. The team announced on Wednesday that second round pick Reggie Ragland tore his ACL earlier this week, and will undergo reconstructive surgery. Technically he can return under the new IR return rule (one player can return without a designation as “designated for return”), but he is likely done for the season.
Ragland was expected to start at inside linebacker next to Preston Brown in the Bills 3-4 defense. The Bills will look at veterans Zach Brown, Brandon Spikes, David Hawthorne, and Randell Johnson as options to compete at inside linebacker. Either way it is a tough loss for a defense that was looking to build on a disappointing 2014 season. Of course, bringing in Rob Ryan to help with the defense will be something to track with or without Ragland.