Dave Wannstedt Gives Scott McKillop A Chance With Buffalo Bills

This happened a while back, but I never got around to the Buffalo Bills picking up former Pitt player Scott McKillop earlier this year. The notable thing, of course, is that his former Pitt coach, Dave Wannstedt, is now the defensive coordinator with the Bills.

Wanny said recently that McKillop was worth a look.

After being let go by the 49ers, McKillop had options:

"He called me and we were talking and he had gone to Atlanta, Pittsburgh… there were six teams trying to sign him," Wannstedt told Buffalobills.com. "Around that time was when Chan made the change and we were going to the 4-3 defense and he came up for a visit and we needed linebackers. It’s a great opportunity for him."

I'd watched McKillop in several NFL games and all indications were that he could be a pro for a while. So why was he let go? His devastating ACL injury:

Wannstedt said McKillop was a victim of the lockout being unable to rehab with his NFL team at the time coming off ACL surgery last offseason.

"He had no offseason," Wannstedt said. "That’s what got him. If there would’ve been a normal offseason he would’ve done all his rehab out with the 49ers. Instead he’s doing his rehab back in Pittsburgh last year coming off major knee surgery. He shows up in San Francisco with a new coaching staff off his own rehab. After a few practice he gets fluid on his knees. So they put him on PUP for three or four weeks and he doesn’t play. Then he gets back healthy and it’s too late and they don’t know who he is and don’t have a feel for him so they release him. So he spent the whole season in Pittsburgh training."

Really glad to see McKillop get another shot. Not surprising that he did, but just the same. The article says he's still favoring his knee, so factoring in right away for significant playing time might not happen. But there's several months until the season, so he'll have time to get right.

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