Bills are a surprise midweek addition to help prepare Ravens’ Lamar Jackson

On By Littum

Orchard Park, NY – The Buffalo Bills added veteran quarterback Anthony Brown to their practice squad Wednesday just days before the team hosts the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Brown is a mobile quarterback who will be tasked with mimicking Jackson on the scout team offense this week to help give the Bills strong looks in practice. Bills coach Sean McDermott explained that there is only one Jackson, but that Brown can help keep the defense honest in practice.

“If you just put a mobile person back when you plan to work on scrambles or the quarterback run game, defensive players know this is one of those plays, right,” McDermott explained. “So to hide it, what Anthony brings to the table is both. He can throw it and he can run it.”

Brown is now set for his second stint with the Bills. The 26-year-old signed with Buffalo during the preseason after backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky suffered a knee injury. Brown played 31 snaps in the Bills’ preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers and was released the next day.

To make room for Brown on their practice squad, the Bills released veteran defensive tackle Eli Ankou. This is the third time this season that Buffalo has released the 30-year-old. He was lifted off the practice squad and played in wins over the Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks in Weeks 8 and 9. Buffalo signed veteran defensive tackles Quinton Jefferson and Jordan Phillips, leaving no room for Ankou on the 53-man roster. He was later added back to the practice squad and is now a free agent again.

Brown completed 11 of 12 passes for 102 yards and ran once for 13 yards in the Bills’ preseason loss to the Panthers. Brown spent his first season in the NFL with the Ravens, who signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon. Brown started one game and played in two for the Ravens in 2022.

The Bills have previously used athletic running backs on their scouting team to prepare for Jackson. Former speedy wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie played the Lamar role on the scout team the week the Bills played the Ravens in the divisional round of the 2020 playoffs. Former Buffalo defensive end Jerry Hughes credited McKenzie for helping the Bills defense prepare for the game.

The Bills defense is as healthy as it has been all season and should have linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard on Sunday against the Ravens. Both linebackers and cornerback Taron Johnson missed the Bills’ Week 4 loss to Baltimore.

McDermott said tackling “is huge” Sunday against the high-powered Ravens’ rushing attack. Running back Derrick Henry ran for 199 yards against the Bills in Week 4.

“Tackling is big every week and certainly this week,” McDermott said. “And you add (running back Justice) Hill to that equation in terms of backfield weapons and just what they’re capable of in space and power and, like I said, a very talented team.”