Buffalo Bills first-rounder Shaq Lawson to have shoulder surgery

The Buffalo Bills could be without first-round pick Shaq Lawson for the start of his rookie season in the NFL. as he is to undergo shoulder surgery.

The defensive end from Clemson University insisted last month, after being selected 19th by the Bills, that his shoulder would not need to be operated on, but the move has now been made for 'pre-emptive' reasons.

General manager Doug Whaley previously said team doctors evaluated Lawson's shoulder and said he would be fine in his first year of playing, but that has proved not to be the case.

Lawson could be out for as long as six months, and a worst-case scenario would see him miss the first half of the regular season.

"While he could continue to play, the Bills medical staff has determined that shoulder surgery is the best course of action for the overall health of his shoulder moving forward," a Bills spokesman said.

Whaley commended Lawson for taking a long-term view on the problem, and the team will now look at a rehabilitation programme before making a more accurate timetable for his return.

"He's forsaking personal goal to be 100 per cent healthy when we will need him most during the regular season," Whaley said.

"Fans constantly hear us say that we want players with tremendous character who keep team goals ahead of personal ones, and Shaq is a great example of this."