Buffalo Bills cut troubled running back Karlos Williams

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Running back Karlos Williams has run out of chances with the Buffalo Bills.

Without providing any details, the Bills released the backup on Saturday, hours before their preseason game against the New York Giants.

The move comes a little over a month after the NFL suspended Williams for the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

In June, he raised concerns with the team for showing up overweight to Buffalo's mandatory minicamp. Williams was so out of shape that he missed the first two weeks of training camp before being cleared for practice on Monday.

Williams vowed he had learned his lesson.

Coach Rex Ryan expressed his support for Williams, referring to him as ''a really talented young man,'' and saying he hoped he would be on the team ''for a long time.''

His departure happened almost as quickly as his ascension last year during his rookie season.

Williams was considered a project when Buffalo drafted him in the fifth round out of Florida State. At 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, he had the combination of size and speed to play running back. What he lacked was experience at the position after making the switch from safety during the 2013 season.

Williams immediately dispelled any questions by becoming the second NFL player to score touchdowns in his first six games - and at a time when starter LeSean McCoy was hampered by a hamstring injury.

He finished with 517 yards rushing and scored nine touchdowns, including two receiving.

The Bills have depth at running back, in part because of the addition of Reggie Bush two weeks ago. Buffalo selected Jonathan Williams in the fifth round and also re-signed Mike Gillislee, who had 267 yards rushing and scored three times last year.

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