Bills' Secondary Takes a Hit Ahead of Divisional Clash with Broncos
The Buffalo Bills will head into Saturday’s divisional playoff showdown in Denver without two key pieces in their secondary. Head coach Sean McDermott confirmed Thursday that veteran safety Jordan Poyer and cornerback Maxwell Hairston will both be sidelined for the matchup against the Broncos.
Poyer, a cornerstone of Buffalo’s defense, re-aggravated a nagging hamstring injury during the wild-card win over Jacksonville. It’s the same issue that kept him off the field for the final two games of the regular season. Hairston, meanwhile, is still recovering from an ankle injury suffered in the regular season finale - one that already kept him out of the playoff opener.
That leaves the Bills with some big decisions to make in the defensive backfield. Rookie Jordan Hancock stepped in for Poyer during the Jacksonville game and could be in line for another start.
The team also has Cam Lewis in the mix, and there’s a possibility Damar Hamlin could be activated from injured reserve. Hamlin hasn’t played since October due to a pectoral injury, but his return would be a timely boost if he’s cleared.
Beyond the secondary, the Bills are dealing with a handful of other injuries - though there's still optimism that several key contributors could suit up. Running back Ty Johnson, a reliable third-down option, hasn’t practiced this week after missing the wild-card game with an ankle issue. His status will be one to watch closely as game day approaches.
Buffalo also had several players limited in practice this week, including linebacker Terrel Bernard (calf), defensive tackle Ed Oliver (biceps), linebacker Matt Milano (ankle), defensive ends Greg Rousseau (back) and A.J. Epenesa (neck), linebacker Shaq Thompson (neck), and tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee, calf).
While none of those players have been ruled out, the Bills will need to carefully manage their health heading into a physical battle with a Denver team that’s been heating up at the right time. With a banged-up secondary and several starters nursing injuries, depth and adaptability will be the name of the game for Buffalo’s defense this weekend.