The Bills had two players in for tryouts during mandatory minicamp this past week and eventually signed one, WR Deven Thompkins to a one-year deal.
Buffalo is the latest stop for Thompkins after entering the league as a UDFA in 2022. He has bounced around several spots and has played at least five games every season and been a heavy contributor on special teams.
Read below for a full injury history and analysis.
Injury History
2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
No publicly reported injuries.
2023 Buccaneers
No publicly reported injuries.
2024 Buccaneers/Carolina Panthers
Hamstring strain, spring OTAs, waived with injury designation.
Hamstring strain, training camp, waived with injury settlement.
Thompkins suffered a hamstring strain at the end of OTAs with the Buccaneers in May that led to his release. He then signed with the Carolina Panthers in training camp and likely suffered an aggravation of that injury in early August leading to his injury settlement. He later re-signed with the practice squad for the remainder of the season.
2025 Atlanta Falcons
No publicly reported injuries.
Buffalo Bills Injury Analysis
Thompkins has appeared in 36 games with 2 starts over his career with most of his work coming on special teams. He has shown the ability to work into the offense with a career high 17 receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown in 2023 with Tampa Bay.
He also brings a lot of punt and kick return experience which is important as WR5 or WR6, needing to be available but contribute mostly on special teams.
Looking at the injury history, he only has the hamstring issue that cost him time during the summer in 2024 when it appeared he aggravated the injury trying to rush back. He did demonstrate he was able to return healthy later in the season and hasn’t had any issues since then. These injuries do happen especially in speed athletes but there doesn’t appear to be a pattern.
Thompkins has a path to the roster but it’s going to involve battling a lot of the depth in the wide receiver room. His special teams experience will help him immensely but he will need to stay healthy, just like everyone else, in order to make this roster.
I’d like to welcome Deven Thompkins to Buffalo and to remain healthy this season.
Top Photo Credit: FOX Sports
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