Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor passed his physical and has been medically cleared after having groin surgery on Jan. 5, a team source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Tuesday.
The timing of Taylor being cleared is important because he has a clause in his contract that guarantees his full $27.5 million base salary in 2017 if the Bills release him "due to a professional football injury suffered while performing his services under this Contract [and] Player is unable, in the sole judgment of Club's physicians, to perform his playing services for Club."
Taylor's contract also includes offset language that would reduce the amount of his injury guarantee by whatever a new team would pay him in 2017 salary and bonuses.
If the Bills decide to release their starting quarterback before $30.75 million of his contract becomes guaranteed March 11, then he will not be due any injury guarantee. If the Bills keep Taylor on their roster after March 11 but decline their option, he would be fully guaranteed his $27.5 million base salary in 2017.