Petoskey’s Joel Wilson receives spot on Buffalo Bills practice squad

BUFFALO — There’s likely about to be a whole lot more Buffalo Bills fans around Petoskey.

Aside from the fact that they’re a popular Super Bowl pick again this season, they’ll also be home to one of Petoskey’s own.

Petoskey High School graduate Joel Wilson – who played throughout the NFL preseason with the Bills – is signing with Buffalo’s practice squad for the upcoming 2023 season, first reported by Buffalo News writer Jay Skurski.

On Tuesday’s cutdown day – the day when NFL teams have to trim their 90-player rosters down to 53 – Wilson was one of a handful of players waived by the Bills.

The plan, and apparently the hope of the front office in Buffalo, was to bring Wilson back to the practice squad.

And that worked out Wednesday afternoon.

An undrafted rookie tight end out of Central Michigan University, Wilson joined the Bills after originally signing with the New Orleans Saints right after the 2023 NFL Draft.

During the preseason, Wilson caught four passes for 20 yards, catching at least one pass in each of the three games against the Colts, Steelers and Bears.

Throughout camp, Buffalo carried five tight ends, which included returning starter Dawson Knox, first round draft pick Dalton Kincaid, backup Quintin Morris and NFL veteran Jace Sternberger, along with Wilson.

Sternberger was released by Buffalo following the close of the preseason, while Knox, Kincaid and Morris made the Bills’ initial 53-player roster.

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Each NFL team is allowed to carry 16 practice squad players, who can be elevated to the active roster on game day no more than three times. If a team activates a player a fourth time, they must then remove someone from the 53 to waivers.

Once a player is moved from the 53 to waivers, they’re allowed to be claimed by any other NFL team – granted that team wants them on their 53-roster – or placed on the original team’s practice squad once clearing waivers.

Throughout the regular season, practice squad players can also sign with other teams, but must be part of that team's 53-player roster when signed.

While at CMU, Wilson made 20 starts for the Chippewas, before ending his career with an ankle injury that forced him to miss the final three games.

He finished his final season with 44 catches for 445 yards and six touchdowns, while racking up 12 touchdowns in his final two years.

MORE: Petoskey native, CMU tight end Joel Wilson declares for 2023 NFL Draft

Players on NFL practice squads make $12,000 per week and just under $220,000 if they stick with a team through the full 18-week season.

Other players the Bills signed to the practice squad right away Wednesday included: Andy Isabella (WR), Richard Gouraige (OT), Christian Kirksey (LB), Ja’Marcus Ingram (CB), Kyron Brown (CB), Kameron Cline (DE) and Eli Ankou (DT).

Around the NFL, former Traverse City West and University of Michigan offensive tackle Ryan Hayes was released by the Miami Dolphins Tuesday. Hayes didn't go long without an NFL home, however, as the Indianapolis Colts claimed Hayes, moving him to the Colts' active roster.

Contact Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny

SIGNING: Petoskey's Joel Wilson inks with Central Michigan for football

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey’s Joel Wilson receives spot on Buffalo Bills NFL practice squad