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Report: Taylor gets medical clearance from Bills as contract option looms

Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Tyrod Taylor has received clearance from the Buffalo Bills' medical staff after undergoing groin surgery in January, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a team source.

Taylor's clean bill of health means the Bills have the ability to part ways and avoid the vast majority of the $30.5 million in contract guarantees that would lock in if he remains on the roster March 11.

As things stand, there's been no definitive word on whether Buffalo intends to keep Taylor as its starting quarterback.

When the Bills shut him down for the final game of the season, it was widely taken as an indicator that team officials were trying to avoid an injury that would result in the guarantees locking in automatically.

In January, Schefter reported the team had "no intention" of picking up the option, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said earlier in February that there's a "real possibility" Taylor would be willing to rework his deal to stay in Buffalo.

A major factor in the franchise's decision about Taylor is whether or not the Bills have a suitable contingency plan.

Looking beyond the major cash commitment involved in keeping Taylor on the roster in 2017, Taylor's scheduled salary-cap hits over the next few seasons are actually on the low end of the spectrum for starting quarterbacks.

Given the production he's enjoyed in Buffalo over two years as the starter, along with his connections to new offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, perhaps the 27-year-old still has a reasonable chance to stick around long term.

Taylor completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 3,023 yards, 17 touchdowns, and six interceptions across 15 starts this past season, adding another 580 yards and six scores on the ground.

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