On Thursday, Buffalo Bills linebacker/defensive end IK Enemkpali apologized for punching his former teammate, New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith. Smith sustained a broken jaw in two places from the punch in the locker room on Tuesday, putting Smith out for 6-10 weeks following surgery.
Next: Ranking The 32 NFL Defenses For 2015
Enemkpali was claimed off waivers by Buffalo and the man who played a role in drafting him last year, former Jets and current Bills coach Rex Ryan. Enemkpali issued a statement, expressing his regret for hurting Smith, per ESPN.
"“I’m just very grateful for Rex Ryan and the Buffalo Bills organization for giving me an opportunity to further my career here in 2015,” Enemkpali said. “I’m very grateful and thankful and happy to be a Bill. I look forward to being a good teammate, accountable player and accountable teammate to this organization.”"
According to multiple reports, Smith and Enemkpali were arguing over $600 that the linebacker believed was owed to him. Smith was refusing to pay the money back in a timely manner, and Smith ultimately put his finger in Enemkpali’s face. The result was a brutal punch to the jaw, perhaps costing Smith his starting job depending on the play of Ryan Fitzpatrick.
"“I apologize for what happened,” Enemkpali said. “It should have never happened. I should have walked away from the situation. It was never my intention to hurt anybody.”"
Enemkpali is trying to make the Bills roster on a defense that is already loaded with big names such as Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams and Jerry Hughes. Enemkpali was taken in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Louisiana Tech and only amassed three tackles while seeing limited time on defense and special teams.