The Buffalo Bills have a major need in their secondary right now. Between a mix of injuries and underwhelming play, the Bills have been forced to go deep into their bench for cornerback play. Rookie sixth-round pick Dorian Strong, who started the season opener, is currently on IR (Injured Reserve) forcing Tre’Davious White back into the lineup across from Christian Benford.
Strong isn’t the only Bills rookie corner on IR. Maxwell Hairston, the No. 30 overall pick out of Kentucky this past April, has been out since training camp with a right knee injury. The Bills opened his practice window this week and he returned to practice, but Hairston has yet to be activated off IR.
Alayna Getzenberg, ESPN’s beat reporter for the Bills, asked Buffalo HC Sean McDermott at his press conference on Friday if Hairston would be activated in time for Week 8’s game against the Panthers. “We’ll see, yeah we’ll see,” McDermott replied.
Getting Hairston back, whenever he’s able, will be huge for this Buffalo defense. Whether that’s this week against the Panthers or next week against the Chiefs, he’ll be a key figure in the Bills’ lineup.
Buffalo Bills HC Sean McDermott on the Team’s Approach to CB Maxwell Hairston’s Injury
Joshua Applegate/GettyGREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – APRIL 24: Cornerback Maxwell Hairston of Kentucky attends the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Joshua Applegate/Getty Images)
“One day at a time, we’ll see as we look forward,” McDermott went on to say as to the timeline for Hairston’s return. “To Alayna’s question here, you just want to be fair because he’s only been back a week now, give or take. So as I’ve said before, the key is managing expectations, you know. I know he’s a [first-round] pick — that said, he’s missed a lot of time. So we’re trying to be delicate with the situation as best we can and support him and continue to challenge him at the same time.”
Hairston was a big-time prospect coming out of Kentucky. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash across all positions at the 2025 NFL Combine, clocking in at a blistering 4.28 seconds. His best season in college came as a sophomore in 2023, when he had 66 tackles, five interceptions, six passes defensed, and a forced fumble. He returned two of those picks for touchdowns. Hairston’s 2024 season was cut short due to injury.
The Buffalo Bills Have Some Ground to Make Up in the AFC East
Through Week 7, the Bills find themselves in second place in the division they’ve dominated for the past half-decade. The Patriots at 5-2 are a half-game up on the 4-2 Bills, and New England also beat Buffalo in their first head-to-head matchup in 2025.
The Bills are still pretty heavy favorites in the division, but the Patriots own the NFL’s easiest schedule moving forward. Buffalo still has to face the Chiefs, Buccaneers, and Eagles — in addition to their rematch with the Patriots.
The Bills are currently riding a two-game losing streak and are coming off their bye week, so they need to rebuild some momentum as they approach the second half of the season. Getting a win on Sunday over the suddenly surging Panthers would be a good start.
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