Buffalo Bills cut underperforming receiver Kelvin Benjamin

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) >> The Buffalo Bills cut Kelvin Benjamin with four weeks left in the season in an indication of how poorly the receiver underperformed during his 13 months with the team.

The move, announced by the Bills on Tuesday, came as a surprise only in its timing for a player who was not expected to be re-signed by the team once his contract expired following this season.

Benjamin had just 23 catches on 62 targets for 354 yards and one touchdown, and was knocked for several drops as well as running poor routes this season.

He has topped 50 yards receiving just once — a five- catch, 71yard outing in a 37- 5 loss at Indianapolis in October — and finished with two or fewer catches nine times in 12 games this season.

That wasn’t the type of production the Bills were expecting from the 2014 first-round draft pick they acquired in a trade with Carolina on Oct. 31, 2017.

Rather than re- establish himself as a top threat following three-plus inconsistent seasons in Carolina, Benjamin wound up being surpassed on the Bills depth chart by second-year receiver Zay

Jones, rookie Robert Foster and Isaiah McKenzie, who was claimed on waivers last month.

Benjamin had a combined three catches for 52 yards in his past three games.

Buffalo also cut veteran receiver Andre Holmes, who was mostly used on special teams, and placed starting center Russell Bodine on injured reserve. Bodine broke his leg in a 21-17 loss at Miami on Sunday.

The Bills (4-8), who host the New York Jets (3-9) on Sunday, filled two of the roster spots by promoting

defensive end Mike Love and cornerback Denzel Rice from their practice squad.

Benjamin’s work ethic was questioned.

Before a 20-13 loss at Houston on Oct. 14, a television reporter tweeted an exchange she said she overheard during pregame warmups. The reporter tweeted Benjamin said no

when rookie quarterback Josh Allen asked him if he wanted to work on routes.

Benjamin and the Bills refuted the story.

Four days later, Benjamin was the first receiver off the field following practice while others spent additional time working out with then-backup quarterback Nathan Peterman.