The Buffalo Bills Have Shut Down Their Rookie Wide Receiver for the Rest of the 2023 Season.

Rookie wide receiver Justin Shorter will not be activated off injured reserve and will miss the remainder of the 2023 season.

Shorter suffered a hamstring injury in Buffalo’s preseason finale and was placed on injured reserve to start the season.

Shorter was designated for return from injured reserve on December 14. Head coach Sean McDermott explained the thought process of opening his practice window:

“Just seeing how he looks and giving him a chance. Just seeing what all the hard work he’s put in looks like.”

Sean McDermott explains why he wasn’t activated off injured reserve.

McDermott explained on Wednesday why they didn’t activate Shorter off injured reserve:

“I thought he did a good job in terms of getting some work in there (during practice). Sometimes, it’s a numbers deal.”

Why this move doesn’t make sense?

Not activating Justin Shorter doesn’t make sense because Buffalo’s receiving corps has been very inconsistent. According to Pro Football Reference, they have the 5th most drops in the NFL with 30. The receiving corps has struggled outside of Stefon Diggs and Khalil Shakir.

Gabe Davis is their WR2. Davis has been very inconsistent this season and has four games without a catch. He has 45 receptions on 79 targets for 746 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. Davis will be an unrestricted free agent during the 2024 offseason and will likely test the free agent market.

Khalil Shakir is their WR3. Shakir has been a reliable number-three option in his second season. He has 33 receptions on 39 targets for 506 yards and two receiving touchdowns.

Deonte Harty is their WR4. Harty hasn’t been productive in the passing game. He has 14 receptions on 20 targets for 139 yards and one receiving touchdown.

Trent Sherfield is their WR5. Sherfield has been nonexistent in the passing game. He has eight receptions on 18 targets for 62 yards.

Justin Shorter would’ve been a good addition to the passing game and complement Diggs, Davis, and Shakir since Harty and Sherfield haven’t been reliable backups.

Hopefully, Shorter can fully recover from his hamstring injury and be more involved in the passing game next season.