Bills release IK Enemkpali, put Leodis McKelvin on NFI list

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills on Friday released defensive endIK Enemkpali, who last month they claimed the day after he was cut by the Jets for punching quarterback Geno Smith.

Enemkpali was involved in a locker room altercation during which he punched Smith and broke his jaw. Smith is expected to miss several more weeks with the injury.

The Bills made 18 roster moves total Friday, cutting 17 players, including backup quarterbackMatt Simms. They have yet to reach the 53-man roster limit and must do so by the deadline of 4 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Also Friday, the Bills placed cornerback Leodis McKelvin on the reserve/non-football injury list, keeping him out at least the first six weeks of the season. McKelvin suffered a broken right ankle in November and re-injured the ankle before training camp.

Coach Rex Ryan had been optimistic last month that McKelvin would be able to remain on the active roster and return before Week 6. The Bills will start rookie Ronald Darby in McKelvin's place.

The Bills' decision to release Enemkpali comes after he played in all four preseason games as a second-team defensive end. He finished the preseason with 11 tackles.

The NFL said last month that it was still reviewing Enemkpali's altercation with Smith for possible discipline.