The Buffalo Bills have taken another hit to their secondary, announcing on Friday that a veteran safety will miss at least the next month.
The team announced that Taylor Rapp would be headed to injured reserve after sustaining a knee injury. The Bills had already lost another safety to a long-term injury, leaving them with a hole in the secondary ahead of a key game.
Taylor Rapp Hurt By Lingering Injury
McDermott told reporters on Friday that Rapp has been dealing with the knee injury since training camp, but he could no longer play and will be headed to injured reserve.
“Medically, they feel like he’s not a spot where he can actually play at a level where we can function to do the job. But give T-Rapp credit, he’s gutted it out for the better part of six-plus weeks, having hurt it in training camp,” McDermott said.
Rapp had started all six games so far this season, making 26 total tackles. Though he had some struggles in coverage, Rapp had been a mainstay of the secondary since joining the team prior to the 2023 season.
McDermott said the team would evaluate its roster and determine who will start in Rapp’s place, but the team already lost one top candidate. Reserve Damar Hamlin, who was a starter last season, has also been placed on injured reserve and will be out for at least a few more weeks.
Bills Could Turn to Familiar Face
The Bills could have another trusted option at safety. The team signed veteran Jordan Poyer to the practice squad, bringing back the All-Pro who first joined the Bills in 2017 and remained a fixture of the defense until he was released prior to the 2024 season.
Poyer spent last season with the Miami Dolphins, but could now be in line to return to a starting role after coming back to Buffalo.
SI.com writer Ralph Ventre named Poyer as the most likely option for the Bills.
“The 34-year-old Poyer was active for the first time as a gameday practice squad elevation in Week 6. He spelled Cole Bishop at one point, looking more than capable during his 18 defensive snaps,” Ventre wrote.
Even before the Bills announced that Rapp was headed to IR, Ventre predicted that the Bills would officially move Poyer to the active roster and send Rapp to the bench.
“With Damar Hamlin on Injured Reserve, the Bills should sign Poyer to the 53-man roster and consider starting him over a flailing Taylor Rapp. Even at this advanced stage of his career, Poyer may be able to perform better than Rapp both in the box and back in coverage,” Ventre wrote.
Poyer could also add a veteran presence for a secondary that has endured other hits, losing rookie cornerbacks Maxwell Hairston and Dorian Strong. The Bills announced this week that Hairston’s three-week practice window would be opened, setting the stage for his potential return from IR.
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