Bills DTs Dareus, Branch cleared for practice

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus. AP

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills defensive tackles Marcell Dareus and Alan Branch have been cleared for practice after passing conditioning tests.

Both players were added to the active roster, according to a list of transactions released by the NFL on Thursday. The Bills were off, and return to practice on Friday at training camp in suburban Rochester.

Dareus returned to camp Wednesday after being excused for three days to attend a court hearing in his native Alabama. On Monday, the 2011 first-round draft pick agreed to enter an NFL substance abuse program in a bid to have two felony drug charges dismissed.

In separate moves, the Bills claimed centre Jared Wheeler off waivers, a day after he was released by Carolina. And they released cornerback Brandon Smith by designating him waived/injured.

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