Buffalo Bills release Canadian DT Eli Ankou ahead of NFL playoffs
Canadian defensive tackle Eli Ankou will not be taking part in AFC Wild Card weekend, as he was released by the Buffalo Bills on Thursday.
Ankou was originally added to the Bills’ practice roster on October 24, marking his third stint with the franchise. He did not dress for a game over that stretch and was released to make place for veteran linebacker A.J. Klein.
The 29-year-old was at training camp with the Bills in 2021 and rejoined the club midway through the regular season, dressing for five games and making nine total tackles and one sack.
The Ottawa native spent most of the 2022 season on Buffalo’s practice roster and remained on it in 2023 before being claimed by the Atlanta Falcons in October. He dressed for one game with the Falcons before getting waived and returning to Buffalo.
The UCLA graduate came into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans in 2017. He has since been a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tennessee Titans.
The six-foot-three, 325-pounder has appeared in 34 career NFL games with three starts, earning 44 total tackles, three tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, and 2.5 sacks.
Ankou was taken in the third round of the 2017 CFL Draft by the Ottawa Redblacks, who still control his CFL rights.
The Bills (11-6) will host the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) in the AFC Wild Card playoffs on Sunday, January 14 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
