Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills are no strangers to fielding a postseason roster compromised by injury woes. Like many teams, it’s seldom that the Bills have ever entered the playoffs at full strength, and utilizing their intended defensive starters. With that, Buffalo must now prepare to face the Jacksonville Jaguars without a key co-starter in the defensive backfield.
Rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston is dealing with an ankle injury and isn’t expected to suit up against the Bills’ wild card opponent this coming Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars. Head coach Sean McDermott told reporters that Hairston is “unlikely to play this week,” due to the injury he suffered during the fourth quarter of action against the New York Jets in Week 18.
It remains to be seen how defensive coordinator Bobby Babich and head coach Sean McDermott will tackle the situation, but the good news is that veteran cornerback Tre’Davious White appears set to continue his role as co-starter opposite cornerback Christian Benford.White and Hairston had been rotating snaps since the rookie made his way into the starting lineup following a knee injury that sidelined him to begin the season.
Practices this week should reveal a lot about how they intend to replace Hairston’s snaps, whether that involves some combination of veteran cornerback Dane Jackson, rookie defensive back Jordan Hancock, or perhaps even defensive back Daryl Porter Jr., who was just signed to Buffalo’s practice squad. Porter was part of the team’s 91-man roster during the summer, and his most likely path to playing against Jacksonville could be via special teams.
None of the current options beyond White are ideal, but it’s not new territory for the Bills. It’s unfortunate that cornerback Darius Slay Jr. refused to report to One Bills Drive after general manager Brandon Beane put a successful claim in for his services.
