Buffalo Rumblings
As the Buffalo Bills wrap up this season’s mandatory minicamp session, the team announced a series of roster moves. The biggest news is that One Bills Drive has waived second-year cornerback Dorian Strong with a non-football injury (NFI) designation.
Strong was selected by Buffalo with the first pick in Round 6 of the 2025 NFL Draft, and he hit the ground running with the team as a player who many believed could become the next in a long line of late-round defensive back gems under prior head coach Sean McDermott. That promise gained real traction when Strong was announced as the Week 1 starter against the Baltimore Ravens, claiming a huge chase-down tackle of running back Derrick Henry that prevented a touchdown.
Strong played in a total of four games (Weeks 1 through 4) during his rookie season, making nine solo tackles among his 10 total defensive stops in 2025. Unfortunately, Strong suffered a severe neck injury ahead of Week 5 that led to the team placing him on Injured Reserve (IR) on October 5, 2025.
At the time of Strong’s placement on IR, there had been no information about when, how, or to what extent he suffered the neck injury. It wasn’t until the end of this past January that we learned the detrimental effects of Strong’s neck injury, which president of football operations/general manager Brandon Beane discussed as a “very serious deal,” where he would have to potentially have to undergo a medical procedure that would determine his playing future.
Strong had neck surgery this past February, with videos soon after showing him rehabbing in a pool while wearing a protective neck brace. then he was later seen with that same brace on during Buffalo’s Organized Team Activities session this spring.
Though one may see the surgery as successful, there’s an entirely different set of needs for Strong to overcome before playing professional football. That meant Strong playing in 2026 was never a realistic possibility, and that his being waived was part of a “procedural step w/the ultimate goal of placing him on reserve/NFI unless he is claimed on waivers,” per ESPN Bills beat reporter Alaina Getzenberg.
As per his release, Buffalo is no longer obligated to pay Strong any money moving forward. While ultimately Strong’s playing future will be determined by his doctors, team personnel, and his/his family’s decisions, it’s not the end of the road yet for his Bills career. If Strong does clear waivers, he can be officially added back to Buffalo via the NFI list (missing the 2026 season), and his contract will still be controlled by the Bills.
Buffalo also released running back Desmond Reid (waived/injured), and wide receiver Gabriel Benyard as corresponding moves to signing a pair of wide receivers. Max Tomczak now returns after his prior release, and Deven Thompkins is officially signed to the team’s active roster.
