Bills’ WR Goodwin to compete at U.S. track nationals

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquise Goodwin is leaving his football cleats behind in Buffalo and instead getting ready to lace up his track cleats as the second-year pro is making his return to track and field competition.

Well, at least for a weekend.

Goodwin, 24, is gearing up for the 2015 U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championship that starts this weekend in Eugene, Ore., an official from USA Track and Field told SI.com.

He hasn’t competed in the sport since finishing 10th in the long jump final at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, but was given a waiver to join the event’s roster by Ed Gorman, chairman of the men’s branch of U.S. track and field, due to his past success in the sport.

Goodwin, who scored a personal best of 8.33 meters (27 feet, 3.95 inches) at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trails before his finish at the London Games, might have a schedule conflict in the future if he does well at the event.

Should he finish in the top three, he would be eligible to participate in the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, held August 22-30 this year.

Bills training camp at St. John Fisher in Pittsford, NY runs from July 31- August 25th.

Buffalo also has preseason games on August 20th at Cleveland and August 29th at home against Pittsburgh.

For a player who is on the roster bubble, it will be interesting to see if Goodwin will have to make a decision between a chance on a NFL roster or another shot at Olympic Gold.

The former third-round draft pick out of Texas University is coming of a disappointing season that saw the vertical-threat haul in just one reception for 42 yards in a injury-riddled campaign.  The Bills have great depth at the receiver position, especially with the addition of Percy Harvin in the off-season that joined an already talented group with Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, and Chris Hogan.

The 2016 Olympic Team Trials for track and field will be held on July 1-10 next year if the whole football thing doesn’t work out for the ultra-talented athlete.