Rex Ryan on Stefan Charles: 'I never wanted to lose him'

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Stefan Charles was the fourth defensive tackle in Buffalo’s loaded front behind All-Pro players Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams, and fifth-year veteran Corbin Bryant. The Lions signed Charles this offseason to be part of their defensive tackle rotation alongside Haloti Ngata, Tyrunn Walker, Caraun Reid and Gabe Wright.At 6-feet-5 and 323 pounds, Charles is considered an above average run defender and has the potential to play multiple techniques upfront in Teryl Austin’s defense. “I never wanted to lose him,” Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan said at the NFL League Meetings when asked about Charles. “I wish he would have stayed. “He certainly wasn’t Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams ... but he’s a good young player and we’ll see how (he) develops.” In three seasons with the Bills, Charles tallied 48 tackles and five sacks. He had 23 tackles and three sacks in 16 games in 2014. “He’s got tremendous upside, but he’s a hard worker, very diligent about his craft,” Bills GM Doug Whaley told The Detroit News. “And he’s big and massive, and if you’re looking for a guy that can play against the run and has got potential as a pass rusher, that’s him.”