The Buffalo Bills had high hopes for safety Cole Bishop when they used a second-round draft pick on him last year, and he showed flashes of strong play during his rookie NFL season.
But Bishop has struggled with injuries this offseason and missed a large chunk of practices, leading head coach Sean McDermott to issue a stern warning about his standing with the team. Bishop was once slated as a starter, but that position could now be in jeopardy as his return date remains unclear.
More Injuries for Cole Bishop
Bishop’s tenure with the Bills got off to a rocky start as he suffered injuries in training camp his rookie season and saw Damar Hamlin earn the starting job opposite Taylor Rapp. Bishop ended up appearing in 16 games his rookie year with four starts, making 40 total tackles with two pass defenses and one forced fumble.
Bishop is back in a familiar place this training camp, having missed the last six practices and the team’s first preseason game while nursing a quad injury.
The injury led McDermott to warn that Bishop may not have enough time to make a bid for a starting job.
“We’re getting short on time,” the Bills head coach said.
McDermott added that the team isn’t sure what they will get out of Bishop.
“Cole has missed quite a bit of time… It remains to be seen what he is truly able to do for us,” McDermott said.
Bishop was listed as a starter on the team’s first official depth chart, but they could turn back to Hamlin if the second-year safety remains sidelined with his injury. Hamlin started 14 games last season, making 89 total tackles.
Rookie Defensive Back Impressed Team
While Bishop’s standing with the team remains uncertain, another young defensive back could be rising up the depth chart. Fifth-round rookie Jordan Hancock had a strong performance in the team’s preseason loss to the New York Giants, showcasing his versatility while spending time at both nickel cornerback and safety.
“Hancock, the No. 170 overall draft pick this past April, spent much of the afternoon flying around the field,” noted Ralph Ventre of SI.com. “Seemingly consistently around the ball, he finished with three solo tackles and a second-quarter interception that was nullified by rookie defensive end Landon Jackson lining up in the neutral zone on the snap.”
McDermott told reporters after the game that Hancock stood out for his play both on defense and special teams.
“Looked good,” McDermott said. “Again, you really don’t know until you watch the film. I’m not out there watching a specific person necessarily, but there are certain guys that you could feel. They showed up in the game. You could feel them on special teams, feel them on defense in this case, Jordan being one of them.”
The Bills have found talent deep in the draft in recent years. Hamlin was a sixth-round pick in 2021, earning playing time in his rookie year on defense and special teams then taking over a starting role in 2022 when Micah Hyde was sidelined with a neck injury.
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