Offensive tackle Brandon Shell. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Bills place veteran T Brandon Shell on reserve/retired list

Originally posted on Pro Football Rumors
By Sam Robinson | Last updated 8/15/23

Brandon Shell caught on with the Bills earlier this offseason, moving into position to play for a third AFC East team. But it does not look like that will happen. The veteran tackle is now on Buffalo’s reserve/retired list, The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia tweets.

Earlier Tuesday, Buscaglia noted Shell was not at Bills practice and was planning to retire. This news will wrap a seven-year career. A 2016 fifth-round pick, Shell worked as a regular starter for most of his pro career.

A Jets draftee, Shell moved into the starting lineup as a rookie and ended up starting 40 games for the team. Blocking for the likes of Josh McCown and Sam Darnold, Shell signed a decent second contract (two years, $9M) with the Seahawks in 2020 and became a starter for a playoff-bound team. Seattle used the South Carolina alum as a two-year starter, trotting him out in 20 games. Shell added a start in the Seahawks’ playoff loss to the Rams to close that season.

Although Shell’s third NFL team — the Dolphins — also ventured to the playoffs, he was not healthy enough to start against the Bills in January. A high ankle sprain sidelined Shell for that game. Nevertheless, Shell made 11 starts for a Dolphins team that lost Austin Jackson in Week 1 of last season.

This retirement comes after Shell was believed to have interest in re-signing with the Dolphins, who instead signed Cedric Ogbuehi. Shell ended up with the Bills in May on a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum. He did not receive any guaranteed money from the defending AFC East champions.

For his career, Shell made 72 starts.

This article first appeared on Pro Football Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

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