Buffalo Bills Sign Former Colorado Buffaloes Star As New Weapon For Josh Allen

Former Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Laviska Shenault reached the next stop of his NFL career on Mar. 13, signing a deal with the Buffalo Bills. The five-year pro joins reigning MVP quarterback Josh Allen and has time as a kick returner.

Oct 6, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) returns to the locker room following pregame warmups against the New York Giants at Lumen Field. / Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Bills entered the NFL offseason needing a spark in the receiver room for MVP-winning quarterback Josh Allen, and they signed a former Colorado Buffaloes phenom who could be a lightning rod.

On Mar. 13, wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. inked a one-year, $1.21 million contract with the Bills.

Shenault enters year six of his pro career on a fifth different team. He's spent stints as a conventional receiver and kickoff returner with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Chargers, amassing 163 receptions, 2548 all-purpose yards and seven total touchdowns.

University of Colorado junior wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (2) takes a handoff during the Rocky Mountain Showdown rivalry football game against Colorado State University on Friday, August 30, 2019, at Broncos Stadium at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. / Special from Timothy Hurst, Fort Collins Coloradoan via Imagn Content Services, LLC

After a decorated three-season Colorado career in which he racked up 191 touches for 2332 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns along with two All-Pac-12 selections, Jacksonville took a shot on Shenault at No. 42 overall in the 2020 draft. He enjoyed a promising rookie campaign as a bright spot for the 1-15 Jags, reeling in 58 catches for 600 yards and five receiving scores.

The speedster's career trajectory began to regress in year two, as Shenault hauled in five more catches and had 19 more yards but on 21 more targets and zero touchdowns. He had the most yards of any receiver in the league without a touchdown in 2021 along with 10 drops, a sizable increase after just three as a rookie. Ultimately, the Jaguars traded Shenault to the Panthers in August 2022.

After scoring a 67-yard touchdown in his first game, Shenault's time in Carolina was mostly uneventful. He spent two seasons jockeying for a solid spot on the depth chart, making 37 grabs for 332 yards.

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His 2023 campaign was cut short due to an ankle injury, and Shenault signed with the Seahawks that offseason. There, he started coming into his own as a special teamer. Seattle knew of his ability to make plays in space, but it hadn't been properly utilized yet.

Last season, Shenault had the 10th-most return yards in the league and one 97-yard return touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers. His prowess in the open field was on full display in 2024, the first year of the new kickoff format.

LAVISKA SHENAULT RETURNS THE KICKOFF 97 YARDS.#SFvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/XGdV5mVdOP

— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2024

Shenault flourished until he committed the cardinal sin of all returners – a fumble against the New York Jets that resulted in him getting waived the next day. He later signed with the Chargers practice squad, being listed as active for one game but recording no stats. Shenault was cut again in January.

Listed at 6-1 and 224 pounds, Shenault now enters a prove-it year in Buffalo. While he may not initially get snaps alongside Allen and in favor of his expertise on special teams, Shenault believes his time will come.

"I think anytime the ball's in my hands it's a great possibility, something great will happen," Shenault said during his introductory press conference. "I feel like I left a lot on the field last year, so I'm looking forward to not leaving nothing on the field this year."

It only takes one touch for Shenault to prove his staying power in the league. Travis Hunter could soon become the greatest playmaker in NFL history to have played for Colorado, but never forget that "Viska" came first.

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