The Buffalo Bills head into a postseason clash with the Denver Broncos at Mile High on Saturday afternoon.
The Buffalo Bills will head into their Divisional Round playoff game against the Denver Broncos without two important starting defensive players. On Thursday, head coach Sean McDermott ruled out safety Jordan Poyer and rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston.
It’s not ideal news for a Bills defense looking to slow down a Broncos offense that’s made a living with fourth-quarter comebacks during the 2025 NFL season. Fortunately for Buffalo, cornerback Tre’Davious White has been playing exceptional football, surrendering just three catches (including one touchdown), and a 33.2 passer rating allowed in the last five games (including playoffs), while earning a 90.7 coverage grade (first) with Pro Football Focus. White forced three pass breakups alone during the Wild Card playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars last weekend.
Still, without Hairston, the Bills lose the one player on defense with speed to counter any offensive player a team fields. Hairston has been dealing with an ankle injury he sustained late in the fourth quarter of action against the New York Jets during Week 18. That injury sidelined Hairston for last weekend’s playoff game against the Jaguars, and now will cost him a second-consecutive postseason game.
Perhaps the bigger concern is Buffalo having to march on this weekend without Poyer, who’s played an instrumental role in the defensive backfield this season. While many outsiders balked at a reunion with Poyer, once re-acclimated and ready for action, he hit the field for injured safety Taylor Rapp and helped second-year safety Cole Bishop blossom into a true threat in the defensive backfield.
Poyer suffered the hamstring injury in Week 16 against the Cleveland Browns. It’s an injury that’s cost Poyer several games, but one that didn’t prevent him from suiting up against Jacksonville. However, Poyer re-aggravated the hamstring last weekend and was later ruled out against the Jaguars. That now leaves the Bills in a tough spot with Poyer inactive for Saturday’s playoff game.
The challenge comes in trying to account for Poyer’s loss, where last Sunday those snaps went to rookie defensive back Jordan Hancock. Things didn’t go well for Hancock against Jacksonville, with him looking lost and too many steps behind on most plays sent his way. Hancock’s efforts last Sunday resembled a bit of what Bishop suffered through prior to Poyer’s return.
It remains to be seen how One Bills Drive will tackle replacing Poyer on Saturday, whether that means a similar role to last Sunday’s for Hancock, or if someone among safeties Damar Hamlin, Darnell Savage, or Sam Franklin Jr. gets an opportunity. Perhaps the most likely scenario is that veteran defensive back Cam Lewis finds his way to a bigger role in the back seven and fills in at starting safety, but it’s important to note that he primarily works at nickel cornerback behind Taron Johnson.
Category: General Sports
