Bills Central

Bills Sign Former Raiders WR Marcell Ateman to Contract

Marcell Ateman will now look to prove the Buffalo Bills right by earning his way onto the 53-man roster for Week 1.

Zach Dimmitt

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The Buffalo Bills clearly liked what they saw from receiver Marcell Ateman during his official team workout on Thursday.

The Bills announced that they've signed Ateman to a one-year deal and released Braydon Johnson in a corresponding move. Ateman was joined by former Miami Dolphins receiver Preston Williams during Thursday's workout, but only one of them managed to put pen to paper.

Ateman, 28, was a seventh-round pick by the then-Oakland Raiders in 2018. He played in 19 games across four seasons with the team, catching 20 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown during that span. He played in the XFL with the St. Louis Battlehawks this past season.

It remains to be seen if he "beat out" Williams for a roster spot. But if he did, it's all the more impressive considering what Williams has done to both the Bills and other opposing defenses in the past.

In 24 career games, Williams totaled 56 catches on 111 targets for 787 yards and seven touchdowns. And in Oct. 2019, he had six catches for 82 yards against Buffalo in a 31-21 Bills win.

The issue with him has been the ability to stay on the field, as he's played in just eight games for each season he's been in the league.

Ateman, on the other hand, has started just six of 19 games in his career. But despite the fact he hasn't had an impact on an NFL roster during the past few seasons, the Bills must've saw something they liked. Ateman will now look to prove the team right by earning his way onto the 53-man roster for Week 1.

You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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Zach Dimmitt
ZACH DIMMITT

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