The Buffalo Bills made a big addition this offseason when they signed defensive lineman Michael Hoecht, but they had to wait six weeks to see him take the field after the NFL handed down a suspension shortly after he signed with Buffalo.

The suspension now over, Hoecht is ready to re-join the team — and said he made sure to keep busy and prepared in his time away.

Michael Hoecht Stayed Sharp

Hoecht — the Canadian player whose last name is pronounced like “Hoyt” — explained that during the time he was unable to access the team facility, he remained in a nearby suburb and trained at a high school.

“First three weeks I was over at Hamburg High School, home of the Bulldogs,” Hoecht said.

Hoecht added that he got the attention of some of the students there, who confused him with another Bills defensive lineman.

“They were very warm and welcoming. I was over at their softball field and a few times in the morning as the school buses pulled up they were like, ‘Joey Bosa, Joey Bosa!’ ”

Hoecht said he maintained the same rhythms as the team, waking at the same times he would have if he were not suspended and going through the same practices to make it easier to jump back into the mix.

“My philosophy was I wanted to sleep in my own bed, eat my own food, stay on routine and be up when the team’s up, keep that normal rhythm and routine,” he said.

Hoecht isn’t the only addition to the team this week. Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, who was also suspended for violating the league’s rules against performance-enhancing drugs, will also join the active roster this week.

Ogunjobi said he also stayed prepared and hopes to make a difference for the Bills.

“I mean, I’ve played a lot of football. This is year nine, so I’m no novice to it, but being able to get back out here and knock the rust off if there’s any, and you know, just fly around and play,” Ogunjobi told reporters, via WKBW. “I think that’s the most important thing, so I was excited I got to get back out here and play.”

Another Young Player Returns

While the veterans Hoecht and Ogunjobi are ready to join the defensive line rotation, the Bills could also get a boost in their secondary from rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston. The first-round pick suffered a knee injury in training camp and had been on injured reserve until this week, when the team opened his three-week practice window.

Hairston told reporters on Wednesday that it felt good to get back to practice for the first time since July. It remains unclear when he could take the field, but Hairston said he’s quickly ramping up his activities.

“It felt good, man, just being able to thud again, wear pads, put a helmet on, and just be able to play again,” Hairston said. “It’s almost like learning how to ride a bike. It’s exciting and I’m just glad I’m back out here.”