Buffalo, NY

Making big plays in front of Buffalo football fans is nothing new to Bills wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt. He's been doing it for about a decade.

Roosevelt was a standout quarterback at St. Joseph's, a Buffalo-area high school, before being converted into a wide receiver at the University at Buffalo. The positional transition proved seamless; he snagged 104 passes in 2008 en route to the University at Buffalo winning the Mid-American Conference championship.

Sunday, Bills No. 2 wide receiver Donald Jones went down with an ankle injury. Roosevelt, who has been cut and re-signed twice in his two-year professional stint, finally got a chance in a meaningful situation.

"This game is a crazy business," Roosevelt said. "So I was definitely prepared for this moment."

And prepared he was. Roosevelt reeled in a personal best - at the NFL level - five receptions, including a critical 20-yarder in the late stages of the Bills' 31-24 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

"Naaman just came through and did a couple great things for us," said Bills head coach Chan Gailey. "That was big."

As an undrafted rookie last year, he totaled nine receptions for 139 yards - spending a majority of the season on the practice squad.

David Nelson, another undrafted receiver to join the Bills a year ago, is also emerging in place of an injured starter.

"That's what I told him after the game. I was like, 'That's how we do things.' Roscoe (Parrish) went down, I had to step up," Nelson said. "Donald went down, Naaman had to step up."

"Naaman steps up," said Stevie Johnson, the team's primary receiver. "Naaman came in and we didn't miss a beat. He did his thing and it just shows the type of guys we have on our team."

Jones left Ralph Wilson Stadium on crutches Sunday, with a boot on his left foot. Gailey didn't specify how long he will be sidelined, but said, "it's going to be a while."

For the 23-year-old Roosevelt, it's a dream-come-true. He's playing on the team he grew up watching -- the team he hoped would give him a chance when he was playing college ball around the corner.

"Naaman stepped up and did a good job, made some good catches for us," said Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. "Next guy in line; I guess that's what being in the NFL is about. You've got to take advantage of the opportunities when you get them. We'll find out who the next guy is and see what he can do."

Roosevelt, like many of his teammates, is hardly a household name. That is, outside of Buffalo.

 

 

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