Bills place LB Shawne Merriman on IR

[October 26, 2011]  ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- The Buffalo Bills placed veteran linebacker Shawne Merriman on season-ending injured reserve on Tuesday because of a right Achilles injury.

It's the same injury that forced him to go on IR last November right after the Bills signed him as a free agent.

Merriman's Achilles unexpectedly flared up on him the Thursday before Buffalo's 27-24 loss to the New York Giants, and forced him to miss that game.

Buffalo re-signed Merriman to a two-year deal a day before the Bills 2010 season finale at the New York Jets in January, hoping he'd provide the defense with a much-needed pass-rushing weapon. But Merriman was bothered by a knee injury late in the preseason, then a nagging shoulder injury early in the regular season kept his snap-count to that of a part-time player.

He finishes the season with nine tackles and one sack in five games.

[Associated Press]

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