The LCL injury Maxwell Hairston suffered early in training camp will indeed cost him at least four games. The Bills set their initial 53-man roster today, and Hairston is heading to IR.
Buffalo stashed the first-round cornerback on IR, with a return designation covering the rookie and offensive lineman Tylan Grable. That duo can return to practice in Week 5, but both players are on the shelf until at least October.
While the Bills breathed a sigh of relief when it was revealed Hairston’s knee injury was not an ACL tear, the LCL sprain he did suffer will cover a chunk of his rookie year. Hairston will lose developmental time because of this injury, as he cannot be designated for return until after the Bills’ Week 4 game. But the team is understandably saving one of its injury activations for a prized prospect.
Hairston and Grable count against Buffalo’s regular-season activation total. The 2024 IR rule change allowed teams to stash two players on IR upon setting their initial 53-man rosters in August, but those players — whether they are activated or not — count against the team’s total. Teams have eight activations each regular season; the Bills are now down to six.
Buffalo used both its allotted August IR moves last year, stashing Matt Milano and Darrynton Evans on the injured list upon setting their roster. Milano returned, while the Bills cut Evans. The running back still counted against the Bills’ activation total, even though he did not play for the Bills in 2024.
The Bills have clear plans for Hairston, but his route to complementing Christian Benford as a boundary CB starter is on hold. For the time being, it will be Tre’Davious White on track to be Buffalo’s No. 2 corner. White had been the team’s top coverage presence for most of his seven-year stint with the team, but ACL (2021) and Achilles (’23) tears sidetracked the former All-Pro. Ahead of an age-30 season, White has a redemption chance. This is a risk, as White struggled last season after being a cap casualty, but the 2024 Rams and Ravens corner will return to a familiar locale and attempt to give starter-level form to the Bills again.
Kept Samuel, Moore AND Shavers in WR room!
And Tre is probably ok!
I don’t love the roster. Sorry, I just don’t. They are notably weak in the defensive secondary and the LB depth is concerning. Ulofoshio was a costly whiff. It’s hard to say these two groups are better than last year’s. Fingers crossed Milano is still Milano. These guys are going to be the reason if they come up short again.
D-Line is at least very interesting to say the least. Im excited to see them in action, especially Bosa of course.
I don’t love the receiver room. Coleman better make huge strides this year. Kincaid too. Especially Kincaid.
The line is great, the backs are fine, Josh is Josh.
Buckle up, bills fans. I hope for the best.
lol
Right? The 160th pick (5th rounder)who was drafted to be a ST guy is a “costly” wiff. Clown shoes