Bills sign defensive tackle Linval Joseph

Linval Joseph (X)

According to Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk on Thursday, the Buffalo Bills have signed two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Linval Joseph of Christiansted, United States Virgin Islands to a one-year deal worth up to $3.72 million. The Bills are Joseph’s fifth National Football League team. He has previously played with the New York Giants from 2010 to 2013, the Minnesota Vikings from 2014 t0 2019, the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020 and 2021, and Philadelphia Eagles in 2022.

In eight games last season with the Eagles, Joseph had 20 combined tackles (12 assisted tackles and eight solo tackles), one quarterback hit and half a sack. The half a sack and quarterback hit came in a 17-16 Eagles win over the Indianapolis Colts on November 20.

In 179 career NFL games, Joseph has 664 combined tackles (387 solo tackles and 277 assisted tackles), 56 tackles for a loss, 76 quarterback hits, six pass deflections, eight forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries for 80 yards, one touchdown, and 25.5 sacks. The fumble recovery for a touchdown came in a 23-21 Vikings win over the Eagles on October 7, 2018.

The two seasons Joseph went to a Pro Bowl were in 2016 and 2017. In the 32 games, he had 145 combined tackles (77 solo tackles and 68 assisted tackles), 10 tackles for a loss, 27 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and 7.5 sacks. While with the Giants, Joseph won a Super Bowl. He had two combined tackles (one solo tackle and one assisted tackle), and one quarterback hit in a 21-17 Giants win over the New England Patriots on February 5, 2012.

The Bills have been decimated with injuries on defense. Among the players out are safety Jordan Poyer (knee), cornerback Tre’Davious White (Achilles), defensive end Greg Rousseau (foot), defensive tackle Ed Oliver (toe), and linebacker Baylon Spector (hamstring).

Heading into the season, the Bills were considered Super Bowl contenders. They may still be, but find themselves in second place in the AFC East at five wins and three losses. They are in second place behind the Philadelphia Eagles.