A former beloved Patriots wide receiver is making his way back to the AFC East, as the Buffalo Bills have officially signed the veteran wide receiver to a one-year contract, the team announced.
The wide receiver stands at 6-foot-1 and weighs 214 pounds, is best known for his stint with the New England Patriots, where he spent three seasons from 2020 to 2022. During his time in Foxborough, he showed flashes of potential, most notably in a standout performance late in the 2021 season when he caught two touchdown passes in a decisive victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. That game marked the highlight of his tenure with the Patriots and hinted at a possible larger role moving forward.
Unfortunately, Kristian Wilkerson’s promising trajectory took a sharp turn in the summer of 2022 during joint practices between the Patriots and the Carolina Panthers. In a heated special teams drill, he was blindsided by Panthers safety Kenny Robinson and appeared to be knocked unconscious on the field. The resulting head injury was severe enough to place him on injured reserve, causing him to miss the entire 2022 season. That setback derailed the momentum he had built and raised concerns about his long-term health and playing future.
Following that lost season, the Patriots ultimately released Wilkerson in the 2023 offseason. He had a short-lived stint with the Indianapolis Colts before landing with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he spent parts of the last two seasons. While his time in Las Vegas didn’t yield significant playing time, he did appear in five games, recording two receptions for 18 yards and one touchdown.
Now at 28 years old, Wilkerson is getting another opportunity to revive his career, this time with the Buffalo Bills — a team in need of depth and competition at the wide receiver position. With his combination of size, past flashes of playmaking ability, and familiarity with AFC East competition, Wilkerson has a chance to carve out a meaningful role in Buffalo’s offensive system as he looks to get his NFL career back on track.
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