The Bills‘ defensive front quickly took shape Tuesday Tyron Smith Jersey Elite , when Star Lotulelei agreed to sign with Buffalo, and Kyle Williams chose to return for a 13th season by saying the he never entertained any thought of retiring.

A person familiar with the situation confirmed to The Associated Press that Lotulelei reached an agreement to sign a five-year contract with the Bills. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the signing the former Carolina Panthers starter won’t become official until the NFL’s business year opens on Wednesday.

The agreement was first reported by ESPN.com.

A few hours later, the Bills announced agreeing to a one-year, $6 million deal to re-sign Williams, who revealed his plan all along was to return.

”As eloquently as I can put it, I haven’t exhausted myself in pursuit of what my dream is of playing this game, or playing for this organization and chasing being a champion,” Williams said during a conference call. ”Buffalo is my home. It’s where I want to be. It’s where I want to win. And I couldn’t be more excited.”

The moves bulk up Buffalo’s defensive front by filling both tackle starting positions a day before the start of free agency.

Just as important, the Bills retained a steadying presence in their locker after losing veteran center Eric Wood, who was diagnosed with a career-ending neck injury in January.

Williams was an unquestioned leader on a patchwork, rebuilding team that exceeded expectations with a 9-7 record and ended a 17-season playoff drought. The 34-year-old is so highly regarded, coach Sean McDermott would grow emotional in discussing what the player meant to the team.

”It’s hard not to gravitate toward a guy like that, because of who he is as a person more so than anything,” McDermott said of Williams in December. ”How could you not like the way he plays and appreciate that, right?”

Williams returns to his familiar spot in the middle, which he’s held since being selected in the fifth round of the 2006 draft. And he’ll be playing alongside the 28-year-old Lotulelei, who takes over after Buffalo traded Marcell Dareus to Jacksonville in October.

”I’m all for bringing on as many good football players as we can Sebastian Janikowski Jersey Elite ,” Williams said, referring to Lotulelei.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 311 pounds, Lotulelei was a five-year starter with Carolina after being selected by the Panthers in the first round of the 2013 draft out of Utah.

The native of Tonga is reunited with McDermott, who was Panthers defensive coordinator before taking over in Buffalo in January 2017. Bills general manager Brandon Beane is also familiar with Lotulelei and played a role in drafting him after previously serving as Panthers assistant GM.

Lotulelei has forced two fumbles and has 11 1/2 sacks in 76 career games, and was voted to the NFL all-rookie team in 2013. His future in Carolina was uncertain after the Panthers signed defensive tackle Kawann Short to a five-year, $80 million contract extension last offseason, and also used a first-round pick for Vernon Butler last year.

Williams is a one-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection. He showed no signs of slowing last year, with 41 tackles and three sacks in starting all 16 games. Overall, his 43 1/2 sacks are the most by a defensive tackle in franchise history.

Williams has no expectation of taking on a diminished role after leading Buffalo’s defensive linemen by playing 758 snaps last year.

”I prepare myself to play as many as I possibly can because mentality-wise, I feel like we’re a better football team when I’m on the field,” he said. ”I’m coming back to play. I’m not coming back to say, `Oh, hey listen, I’ll just play 25, 30 snaps a game and let you guys fight over the rest.”’

Buffalo’s defensive front seven has numerous needs with starting linebackers Preston Brown and Ramon Humber eligible to become free agents. The Bills finished 26th in yards allowed and gave up 140 or more yards rushing eight times, including a 10-3 loss to Jacksonville in the AFC wild-card playoff game.

Lotulelei’s addition is the latest bold move made by Beane in reshaping Buffalo’s roster since being hired in May to replace Doug Whaley.

Beane has already completed two trades over the past week in dealing quarterback Tyrod Taylor to Cleveland and sending starting offensive tackle Cordy Glenn to Cincinnati. Buffalo moved up nine spots in the first round by acquiring the Bengals’ selection, 12th overall Cheap Keke Coutee Jersey , as part of the Glenn trade.

The deals continued strengthening Buffalo’s bid for selecting one of several highly regarded quarterback prospects in the first round next month. The Bills have two picks in each of the first three rounds, including the 22nd selection.

Williams backed the moves.

”It goes back to really believing in and trusting what Brandon and Sean are doing,” Williams said. ”I believe in their vision of what they’ve trying to build. And so for me, I’m on board with what they’re doing.”

—

Patrick Mahomes had a quiet first start for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mahomes' first appearance as the Chiefs' starting quarterback lasted nine plays and netted 29 yards Thursday during a 17-10 loss to the Houston Texans in the preseason opener for both teams.

Now, the challenge for Mahomes, who finished 5 of 7 for 33 yards on his two drives, is to use the game to get ready for the regular-season opener Sept. 9 at the Los Angeles Chargers.

"We've got to just keep perfecting our craft, keep perfecting the plays and hopefully move the ball and score a few more touchdowns," he said, calling the preseason "a little bit of a tease."

Mahomes, who took over the starting job when Alex Smith was traded to Washington during the offseason, was sacked once and didn't throw a touchdown or interception in a solid, if unspectacular, performance.

"Just scoring a touchdown or a field goal would probably have made it a lot better," Mahomes said. "We moved the ball a little bit; we made some plays. But at the same time, you want to kind of get the drive going a little bit more."

Eventually, Chiefs fans will get to see Mahomes' full ability on display. He didn't complete a pass longer than 14 yards and never targeted Sammy Watkins 鈥?who signed a three-year Texans Game Jerseys , $48 million deal in the offseason 鈥?on Thursday.

"Being the quarterback that I am, I like to take shots downfield," Mahomes said. "I just didn't get the opportunity to do it tonight."

The announced crowd of 58,465 also witnessed the return of Houston's second-year franchise quarterback in Deshaun Watson, who was selected two picks after Mahomes at No. 12 overall in the 2017 draft.

Watson won the Texans' starting job last season, but missed the second half of the season with a torn ACL. He played only one series and threw only one pass 鈥?a 4-yard completion to wide receiver Bruce Ellington 鈥?while handing off four times to running back Lamar Miller.

"I thought it was important for him to go through the whole warmup process and preparation for the game and get out there and operate the offense," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said.

That was good enough for Watson, who relished the return.

"It was a good time to get the juices flowing a little bit, to hear the fans and just walk on the field," Watson said.

Brandon Weeden took over for Houston after the game's opening drive and led back-to-back touchdown drives 鈥?including a 12-play, 68-yard drive during his first series that was capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Jordan Akins.

Weeden hooked up with Akins for a 14-yard touchdown on the next drive and finished 9 of 11 for 97 yards with two touchdowns after starting out with two incompletions.

Mahomes' backup, Chad Henne, was responsible for the lone Chiefs touchdown 鈥?a 24-yard pass over the top to Demarcus Robinson late in the second quarter.

"I want to come out and show the coaches I can make plays, so it was pretty good," Robinson said. "We had a double move called, so I gave him a little hesitation about 5 yards off the line and it was a great ball."

Robinson finished with three catches for a game-high 48 yards, while Henne finished 8 of 14 for 91 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Several notable players were absent for both teams.

Chiefs safety Eric Berry (Achilles' heel) didn't dress for the game. Backup Eric Murray got the start instead alongside rookie safety Armani Watts Authentic Alex McGough Jersey , who replaced injured starter Daniel Sorenson (knee).

"When they came and told me (I was starting), I was just ready," said Watts, a rookie fourth-round pick from Texas A&M. "That's what you've got to be as the next man up."

Kansas City also was without both starting inside linebackers 鈥?Anthony Hitchens, a free-agent acquisition from the Cowboys, and Reggie Ragland.

Houston had its share of absences as well 鈥?including linebacker Whitney Mercilus (soft tissue injury), who didn't make the trip.

Linebackers Benardrick McKinney and Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end J.J. Watt, safety Tyrann Mathieu and cornerback Johnathan Joseph also didn't play along with starting wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

There were no protests from players on either team 鈥?though a few Chiefs, in particular, stood well off the sideline near the benches 鈥?during the national anthem. It didn't appear that any players went to the locker room for the anthem.

INJURIES

Texans LB Kennan Gilchrist did not return after absorbing a helmet-to-helmet blow late in the fourth quarter.

Coach Andy Reid said the Chiefs had three injuries 鈥?C Jimmy Murray (left knee), RB Kerwynn Williams (head), and G Ethan Cooper (left shoulder).

NEXT UP

The Chiefs (0-1) return to action Friday, Aug. 17, at the Atlanta Falcons.

The Texans (1-0) host the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, Aug. 18.

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