Buffalo Bills agree to sign linebacker Brandon Spikes

The Buffalo Bills signed middle linebacker Brandon Spikes to a one-year contract Sunday, bringing the former Bill back after he took a year off from football.

Buffalo also signed tight end Jimmay Mundine on Sunday.

As a result of the roster additions, the team has released wide receiver Gary Chambers and cornerback Javier Arenas.

The Buffalo Bills got pretty scared when second round pick Reggie Ragland went down with an injury in training camp. Hawthorne, 31, has spent the last four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, which is where Bills assistant coach Rob Ryan previously coached. Spikes later pleaded guilty to multiple motor vehicle charges and received probation.

It led to Spikes being released by his team, the Patriots, who he had only spent a few weeks playing for.

Alabama’s Reggie Ragland will open the season as a starting linebacker (assuming his injury Friday isn’t serious) while Clemson pass rusher Shaq Lawson was initially projected to play a major role in replacing Williams, but he will miss at least a month of the regular season due to a significant shoulder issue. After initial MRIs were inconclusive due to swelling in Ragland’s knee, head coach Rex Ryan is just hoping that the Bills second-round pick won’t miss significant time.

Hawthorne had five starts in 11 games previous year before being cut by the Saints in December.

Backup Kevin Reddick is also out with a knee injury, while Jamari Lattimore is expected to return to practice on Monday after missing several sessions with a broken nose. Brown is one of many defenders, including pass rusher Jerry Hughes and linebacker IK Enemkpali, who the team believes will play at a higher level.

Ragland was the 2015 SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He appeared in 11 games, rushed for over 500 yards and scored seven touchdowns.