After WR Jalen Virgil didn’t pass his physical due to a non-football injury, the Buffalo Bills released him and signed WR Dante Pettis on July 30.
The well-traveled wideout has been in the league almost a decade after getting drafted in the second round back in 2018 by the San Francisco 49ers. He has since bounced around the league to the Giants, Bears, and Saints before signing with the Bills.
Read below for a full injury history and analysis for Dante Pettis.
Injury History
2018 San Francisco 49ers
Ankle, pre-draft process.
Pettis did not participate in his college pro day due to a lingering ankle injury from a November injury.
Left Knee, Week 4, missed 3 games.
Pettis missed three games after he suffered a bruised knee in Week 4, missing the following three games.
Foot, Week 15, missed 0 games.
He appeared on the injury report for a foot injury, appearing to suffer the injury in practice that week. He had a questionable designation that week but was able to play.
MCL Knee Sprain, Week 16, missed 1 game.
Pettis suffered an MCL sprain in the loss to the Chicago Bears and was placed on injured reserve, missing the season finale.
2019 San Francisco 49ers
Pectoral/groin, preseason.
Pettis dealt with both pectoral and groin injuries during the preseason that prevented him from effectively working out to ramp up for the season. He was on the injury report with a groin injury prior to Week 1 but was able to play.
Calf, Week 1, missed 0 games.
He was limited to just two offensive snaps in Week 1 as he battled through a calf injury and wasn’t on the injury report the following day.
Knee, Week 8, missed 0 games.
While practicing the Thursday prior to Week 8, he suffered a knee injury that left him limited but did not lead to a designation prior to the game.
Back, Week 10, missed 0 games.
He was limited all week in practice and questionable heading into the game but got 3 targets on 31 offensive snaps.
Knee, Week 13, missed 2 games.
Pettis suffered a knee practice on the Wednesday leading up to Week 13 and initially missed the next 2 games due to the injury but was inactive for the last three games of the season and three games in the playoffs.
Illness, Week 21, missed 0 games.
2020 49ers/New York Giants
Knee, Week 4, missed 3 games.
He missed three games after suffering an injury in Week 4 before he was able to return in Week 8 before he was cut after the game and signed with the New York Giants.
COVID, November 20.
Pettis was placed on the COVID/Reserve list on November 20 and activated on December 1. He did not see his first game in a Giants uniform until Week 16.
2021 New York Giants
Shoulder, Week 8, missed 9 games.
Pettis suffered a shoulder injury against the Kansas City Chiefs that was severe enough that required season-ending surgery.
2022 Chicago Bears
Illness, Week 13, missed 0 games.
Ankle, Week 17, missed 0 games.
Another practice injury led to Pettis appearing on the injury report and missing the following day before being deemed questionable but suiting up that Sunday.
Head, Week 17, missed 0 games.
Pettis was evaluated for a concussion and even held back as a precaution but was never officially placed in the concussion protocol and practiced in full later that week.
2023 Bears
Undisclosed injury, preseason.
He was placed on the non-football injury list at the start of Bears training camp where he stayed for two weeks before he was removed.
Undisclosed injury, preseason, placed on injured reserve.
Pettis was initially placed on injured reserve at roster cut downs with an undisclosed injury and waived with an injury designation. He did not sign with a team or play in 2023.
2024 Bears/New Orleans Saints
Undisclosed, preseason, injured reserve.
Pettis once again did not get through the preseason without an injury, being placed on injured reserve before he was released with an injury settlement. He later signed with New Orleans in October where he spent time on the practice squad and called up to the active roster.
2025 Saints
No publicly reported injuries.
Buffalo Bills Injury Analysis
Dante Pettis has missed 18 games over the last 9 seasons and missed the entire 2023 season potentially due to injury or simply not being signed to a roster. While he is 6’1” and 195 lbs, his body clearly has a hard time staying healthy in the NFL.
After looking at this whole injury history, and I’m certain there’s more that I didn’t find, he has talent but is always dealing with something. High draft picks tend to get more shots despite poor performance or injuries because some coach or scout sees the talent and thinks they can unlock it. There’s a reason he’s stuck around since 2018, he has a lot of experience with punt returns and as offensive depth, but he’s largely unreliable.
His ideal situation appears to be on the practice squad and a veteran option to be ready in the event of injury. He can step in on special teams and be your WR5 or WR6. I understand why the Bills brought him in, I can’t outright hate this because there’s nothing guaranteed, but either he figured out something last year where he didn’t get injured or they wanted to bring him in now to learn schemes as a veteran option for the practice squad.
I can’t even say I’m concerned about a particular injury or see a trend, there’s just constant missed time. You still have to have talent and certain intangibles to hang on this long, but at some point, a guy has to say, I’m tired of being hurt. That’s up to him to decide when to hang it up, Pettis is not there yet.
I’ll be more surprised if Pettis can get through the preseason uninjured than if he actually makes the roster for Week 1. I hope Dante Pettis does well during his time in Buffalo, but he’s going to need some serious luck.
Maybe Ed Oliver’s horse can lend him a lucky horseshoe for the season.
I’d like to welcome Dante Pettis to Buffalo and to remain healthy this season.
Top Photo Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
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