Oh Snap! Bills Long Snapper Reid Ferguson Gets Surprise Drug Test After Win vs. Los Angeles Chargers
As most Western New Yorkers prepared to search for surprises under their Christmas trees, Reid Ferguson found one atop his locker.
Ferguson, the Buffalo Bills' long snapper, jokingly claimed football favoritism when a request for a postgame drug test was waiting for him in SoFi Stadium's visitors' locker room after a 24-22 win over the hosting Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday.
"Buffalo vs. Everybody," Ferguson said in an X post showcasing his urine sample summons. "Including drug tests smh."
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Ferguson has been the Bills' reliable long snapper since 2016. The request likely stems from a hard laid down on Chargers punt returner Derius Davis during Saturday's fourth quarter action. Credited with the tackle alongside Tyler Matakevich, Ferguson's stop on Davis after a 13-yard return limited damage on a Sam Martin kick from his own end zone, situating Los Angeles on the Buffalo 48.
The Chargers would kick a field goal on the ensuing drive to narrow the gap to two, but Ferguson would later play a major role in the victorious finale. His snap to Martin allowed Tyler Bass to launch the game-winning 29-yard triple in the final minute after Los Angeles took a brief lead on another Cameron Dicker boot, paving the way to Buffalo's third consecutive win, one that put them in prime territory to extend their playoff streak to five, the second-longest active tally in the NFL.
Ferguson was amused by fans' response to the post, as some called him out for complaining while others continued to use "Buffalo vs. Everybody" as a rallying cry. The attention prompted Ferguson to post a clarifying tweet that it was meant to be all in good fun and perhaps a tongue-in-cheek nod to the veil of anonymity when it comes to long snappers falling.
This isn't the first time that Ferguson has drawn drug testers' attention over the holidays: Ferguson was previously summoned for postgame testing after last Thanksgiving's win over the Detroit Lions, another game that saw him bestow the snap that led to a game-winning field goal from Bass.
It appears that Ferguson passed his test, as there's no sign that he'll be unable to partake in Buffalo's penultimate game of the regular season against New England next Sunday in Orchard Park (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
