Pre-draft Nelson impressed many scouts with his solid college career and impressive scouting combine numbers. At the
NFL Combine, he ran a 4.56 forty-yard dash, bench pressed nineteen reps and posted a vertical jump of thirty three inches. Going into the
2009 NFL draft, Nelson was regarded as one of the top tight end prospects.
Buffalo Bills Nelson was selected in the fourth round with the 121st overall pick by the Buffalo Bills. In his debut game against the New England Patriots on
Monday Night Football, Shawn Nelson caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Trent Edwards. The Bills went on to lose the game 24–25. Nelson was suspended without pay for the team’s first four games of the 2010 regular season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. Nelson’s suspension began on Saturday, September 4, 2010. He was eligible to return to the Bills’ active roster on October 4, 2010. Nelson was released by the Bills on September 3, 2011.
New York Jets Nelson was signed by the
New York Jets on October 31, 2011. Nelson was waived by the team on November 22, 2011, due to a non-football related illness.
Blacktips Nelson was also a member of the
Blacktips of the
Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL). ==References==