Bills release RB Karlos Williams

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills have waived second-year running back Karlos Williams, the team announced Saturday.

The move comes after the NFL announced in July that Williams was suspended for the first four games of the regular season for a violation of the league's substance-abuse policy. Williams can serve the suspension as a free agent if he is not claimed off waivers or signed by another team.

Williams, 23, began training camp on the active/non-football illness list after he reported to minicamp in June out of shape. Williams, who attributed his weight gain to his pregnant fiancee's food cravings, was activated Monday from the non-football illness list and practiced this past week.

The Bills' decision to release Williams represents a reversal of course from the team, which had supported Williams despite his poor conditioning and suspension.

"I think we're all excited about the talent he has," coach Rex Ryan said Monday. "It's clear this is a really talented young man and yeah, we hope that he's here for a long time and does the right things and handles himself well off the field. So that's something that we're counting on from him."

A fifth-round pick last season, Williams played in 11 games last season, starting three games. He gained 517 yards on 93 carries and scored seven rushing touchdowns in addition to two receiving touchdowns.

Williams tied an NFL record last season by scoring a touchdown in each of his first six games played in the NFL. New England Patriots running back Robert Edwards also scored touchdowns in his first six games as a rookie in 1998.