Bills Rookie Ragland Needs Knee Surgery, May Miss Season

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) -- First, Shaq Lawson. Now, Reggie Ragland.

The Buffalo Bills defense lost another rookie starter after the team announced Wednesday that Ragland will have surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee. Ragland is expected to miss the season.

Ragland was hurt during practice Friday while going after the ball carrier. He pulled up and went to the ground without being hit.

The injury means Rex Ryan's new-look defense will be missing its top two draft picks to start the season.

Ragland was selected in the second round out of Alabama and pegged to start at one of Buffalo's two inside linebacker spots.

Then there's Lawson, Buffalo's first-round pick, who was supposed to start at outside linebacker. However, Lawson is expected to miss at least the first month of the season after having shoulder surgery in May.

Lawson's backup, veteran Manny Lawson, is also hurt. He's expected to miss most of the preseason with a partially torn pectoral muscle.

The Bills addressed their injury-depleted linebacker group by signing free agent veterans Brandon Spikes and David Hawthorne on Sunday.