It’s next-man-up time again for Buffalo Bills secondary after Taylor Rapp was placed on injured reserve. Luckily for Bills coach Sean McDermott, the next player in line is one the organization knows well.
With Rapp’s injury, veteran Jordan Poyer could be in line to be elevated after spending the first seven weeks on the Bills practice squad, and McDermott spoke about Poyer’s leadership while biding his time off the active roster.
Rapp was placed on IR on Friday with a knee injury, becoming the third Buffalo safety to land on injured reserve this season.
Buffalo (4-2) has lost two straight and will try to snap that skid when it takes on the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in Charlotte.
Sean McDermott: Jordan Poyer’s ‘Unselfishness’ Led Him To Return
The Bills were hoping to have Rapp and Damar Hamlin patrolling their defensive secondary for most of the season while playing opposite free safety Cole Bishop, who has stayed remarkably healthy while playing 96 percent of defensive snaps.
Yet, Hamlin landed on injured reserve two weeks ago, and they both joined Wande Owens, who has also been on IR since training camp.
So enter Poyer, the 34-year-old who spent seven seasons with the Bills from 2017-23 before going to the Miami Dolphins for a season then returning on a one-year deal this off-season.
Poyer was resigned to the practice squad, but with Buffalo’s injury-laden safeties room, he has suddenly found himself important at work. McDermott credited his readiness and maturity for sticking with it.
“It’s a great example of unselfishness, of being a part of something bigger than oneself,” McDermott said of Poyer’s ongoing participation on the practice squad. “He’s been able to get yourself to embrace that type of attitude, that type of mindset, that doesn’t happen all the time.”
Poyer made his return to action in a Bills uniform by playing 16 snaps and making one tackle while spelling Rapp in their 24-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7.
So even though the NFL is a results’ business, and the Bills will now need him to step in and contribute, Poyer has already been valuable to the team.
“It’s great to have him here,” McDermott said. “Young players can learn and even honestly some of our new players that are veterans can learn from that level of unselfishness.”
Jordan Poyer Is ‘Grateful’ For The Chance To Play With the Bills
Poyer may have thought his career was over before signing a one-year contract with the Bills in the middle of training camp.
But joining the Bills, who have Super Bowl-caliber expectations, may have inspired Poyer’s level of unselfishness. Whatever Poyer’s mentality, he is the one feeling grateful for the chance to contribute on a team as talented as Buffalo.
âI’m extremely grateful for this opportunity to be able to come here and play for this organization once again and just do everything that I can to help this team win football games,â Poyer said Wednesday. âWhether that’s my scout team, whether that’s being up [on the active roster], whatever that is, I’m just staying ready to play.â
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