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With punch of the ball vs. Pats, Zimmer entered Bills lore

Defensive tackle Justin Zimmer wasn't sure he was even going to make the Bills' roster upon signing with Buffalo in mid-August.

Credit: AP

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Justin Zimmer (61) walks on the sideline during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Justin Zimmer had more appearances on the NFL transactions list than tackles -- 27-15 -- since 2016, when the undersized defensive lineman first broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Buffalo Bills. None of that mattered on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, when Zimmer, in his second stint with Buffalo will be remembered for forcing the decisive fumble to secure a 24-21 win over the Bills AFC arch-nemesis New England Patriots. (AP Photo/Brett Carlsen, Fikle)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Journeyman defensive tackle Justin Zimmer wasn't sure he was even going to make the Bills' roster upon signing with Buffalo in mid-August.

More than two months later, Zimmer is not only on the roster, he made the decisive play by forcing Cam Newton's fumble in the final minute to secure a 24-21 win over the New England Patriots.

It was an unlikely moment for someone playing his seventh career NFL game since completing his college career at Division II Ferris State in 2015. Zimmer is in his second stint with Buffalo, and his journey also included stops in New Orleans, Atlanta, Cleveland and Montreal of the Canadian Football League.