News

Three players coming off of surgery this offseason were not ready to begin training camp Saturday. One was waived and two others were placed on the physically unable to perform list Saturday. John DiGiorgio, who was set to enter his fourth year with the Bills failed his physical and was waived by the club.

James Hardy and C.J. Hawthorne were also not ready to practice and were placed on active PUP. Being on active PUP Hardy and Hawthorne can come off of PUP and re-join the active roster as soon as they pass a physical.

The DiGiorgio move came as a bit of a surprise. A valued member of Buffalo’s special teams and linebacking corps the past three seasons, DiGiorgio’s surgically repaired knee apparently has not responded as well as had been hoped.

DiGiorgio suffered a torn ACL in the Week 6 game against San Diego last season.

Hardy, like DiGiorgio is also coming off ACL surgery, and is only a little over six months removed from surgery. He’s hopeful to be participating in camp in time to play in the team’s final preseason game on Sept. 3.

Hawthorne had surgery on his left foot in during the team’s mandatory minicamp in June. To this point no prognosis has been given on his possible return.

Both Hardy and Hawthorne watched Saturday morning’s practice from the sidelines.