Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills elevated cornerback Dane Jackson and linebacker Baylon Spector from the practice squad ahead of their Week 10 matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
Jackson, 28, is up for the second straight game, having played 13 special teams snaps in last week’s 28-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. He was extremely productive in that role, notching three assisted tackles on what amounted to just over half of Buffalo’s special teams snaps. Jackson was elevated last week thanks to an injury to nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, and he took the place of regular special teams ace Cam Lewis, who had to fill in for Johnson on defense as the Bills’ primary slot corner.
Spector, 27, has yet to play this season. He was selected with the 231st overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Bills and spent three seasons with the club, appearing mostly on special teams. He was waived with an injury designation back in August and was not with any other teams prior to signing with Buffalo’s practice squad on October 7.
For his career, Spector has 52 tackles, two tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, and 1.5 sacks. Most of those stats were accumulated last season, when he had 40 tackles, two tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks across 11 games and four starts.
Head coach Sean McDermott ruled out two players on Friday: defensive end A.J. Epenesa (concussion) and linebacker Shaq Thompson (hamstring). Spector will take Thompson’s spot on the game day roster, as he’ll likely reprise his main role on special teams that he filled over the last three years. Jackson’s elevation could spell bad news for starting corner Christian Benford, who the team listed as questionable with a groin injury this week.
