Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills are one step closer to seeing rookie cornerback Max Hairston in action during the 2025 NFL season. Hairston has been on Injured Reserve (IR) since suffering an LCL sprain on July 29, during training camp this past summer.
Bills Mafia were hopeful to see Hairston lock down opposing teams’ wide receivers in tandem with cornerback Christian Benford. Those expectations were soon dashed after the knee injury sent him to the sidelines for an IR-mandatory four-game stay. One Bills Drive decided to proceed cautiously with Hairston, prioritizing the need to give him more time to recover and prepare for his first NFL season. Hairston found that extra time by spending two additional games on IR.
With Hairston well into recovery from injury, the Bills decided to open his 21-day return-to-practice window on October, 20. This potentially puts Hairston on-target to finally make is regular season debut on November 9, which is Week 10 and a road game against the Miami Dolphins.
The Bills could bring him back sooner within that 21-day practice window if they feel he doesn’t need every bit of the ramp-up period. Hairston also doesn’t count toward Buffalo’s 53-man roster while inside this 21-day window.
That means Hairston can practice and prepare for action all without the Bills having to make roster adjustments to make room for him. That allows Buffalo’s defense to continue preparing for opponents on a week-to-week basis, while also doing everything possible to get Hairston up to speed out of harm’s way.
Letting Spector practice now serves two purposes for the Bills: It gives them an insurance player that has been in the system all season — three in fact — should they need someone after this weekend’s game. It also lets them evaluate Spector so they can make a better decision about his future with the team when the offseason gets started.
Prior to drafting Hairston, general manager Brandon Beane brought back cornerback Tre’Davious White in free agency, which was viewed as a solid contingency plan. White has struggled to stick with the younger speed at wide receiver, but he’s been one of the better tacklers on defense through six games.
