Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills made and were awarded another waiver claim on Friday, adding veteran safety Darnell Savage Jr. to the 53-man roster. Savage Jr. will fill the roster spot vacated by cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram, who was waived to accommodate a successful waiver claim for veteran cornerback Darius Slay Jr. When Slay Jr. failed to report to Buffalo, the Bills placed him on the Reserve/Did Not Report list, thereby opening a spot on the active roster.
Savage Jr., 28, is a former first-round draft pick, as he was the twenty-first overall selection by the Green Bay Packers in the 2019 NFL Draft. He spent five seasons with the Packers, logging 302 tackles, nine interceptions, 32 pass breakups, nine tackles for loss, and one sack across 72 games with the club. He signed a three-year free agent deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars in March of 2024, but he only played 15 games in Duval County before he was released by the team this past September. He totaled 52 tackles, one interception, and 7 pass breakups as a member of the Jaguars.
Savage Jr. signed with the Washington Commanders on September 22, just six days after his release from Jacksonville. He played in eight games with Washington this season, starting two. He totaled 15 tackles, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble with Washington. He asked for and was granted his release by the club on December 4.
Savage Jr. is a phenomenal athlete, as he ran a 4.36-second forty-yard dash at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine. He also displayed a 39.5” vertical leap and a 10’6” broad jump. At worst, Savage is a fantastic addition to Buffalo’s special teams group. At best, he’s quality depth at a position where the team has already lost a starter, Taylor Rapp, and another veteran reserve in Damar Hamlin.
Savage Jr. joins Buffalo’s current safeties: Cole Bishop, Jordan Poyer, Cam Lewis, and Jordan Hancock.
