ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills have signed punter Jon Ryan to a one-year contract, a day after the 12-year NFL veteran was released by the Seattle Seahawks.
Ryan’s signing on Tuesday places into question returning punter Colton Schmidt’s hold on the job he’s held for the previous four seasons.
The Canadian-born Ryan spent 10 seasons in Seattle and had been the longest active player on the team’s roster.
In 2011, he set the Seahawks’ single-season record by averaging 46.64 yards per punt and tied the team mark by landing 34 points inside an opponent’s 20. Overall, he has a career punting average of 44.7 yards over 191 games.
Ryan was responsible for one of the most important touchdowns in Seahawks’ history. He completed a touchdown pass on a trick play in the NFC championship game after the 2014 regular season that helped Seattle reach its second straight Super Bowl.
Ryan is reunited with kicker Stephen Hauschka, who previously played in Seattle before signing with the Bills last year.
Buffalo freed up room on its roster by releasing kicker Tyler Davis.
