Former first-round pick talks about humbling journey back to NFL after four years out of the league

After four years out of the NFL, former first-round pick Shane Ray is hoping to complete a long comeback.

Ray recently signed with the Buffalo Bills in the hopes of landing a spot on the roster.

The DE/LB was selected 23rd overall by the Denver Broncos in 2015 and Ray looked like he was on track to a standout career in the NFL. He played a key role on a Super Bowl team, and flashed enough ability to be a steady starter in the league. 

But mounting wrist injuries that resulted in four surgeries helped knock him off the Broncos roster and out of the NFL entirely.

He spent time playing in the CFL, and recently talked about how he had to humble himself and take an invite to Bills rookie minicamp this spring to show what he can do.

“I had to humble myself, more than humbled than ever before,” Ray said following a recent practice, via the AP’s John Wawrow.

“From going to Canada and buying in, you know I can’t act like there were days that I didn’t walk in and I was like ‘Bro, this is where I am?’ I was desperate for an opportunity.”

Ray appeared in 49 games for the Broncos, starting 15 of them.

He showed impact potential in his second year, recording a career high eight sacks and recovering two fumbles, returning one of them for a touchdown.

But the injuries and a declining role were too much for him to overcome.

Now 30 years old, Ray had to prove himself all over again and quite literally start from the bottom of the NFL depth charts. He is going to have a real opportunity to make an impact for a Super Bowl contender that can definitely use more push from its pass rush.

It would be quite a journey if he is able to stick and resume his career after four years away.