Jan 08, 2026
3 min read
The Buffalo Bills could be productive in the defensive backfield for a playoff matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Buffalo Bills are no strangers to putting together a postseason roster that has been marred by injuries.Like many teams, the Bills rarely reach the playoffs at full strength using their projected defensive starters.With that, Buffalo must now prepare to face the Jacksonville Jaguars without a key contributor in the defensive backfield.
Buffalo Bills CB Maxefoon Handiston "don't play" against Jaguars
The Buffalo Bills may need to get creative on defense to make the playoffs against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Rookie cornerback Maxwell Hurston is out with an ankle injury and is not expected to play next Sunday against the Bills' wild-card opponent, the Jacksonville Jaguars.Head coach Sean McDermott told reporters that Hurston "will not play this week" because of the injury he suffered in the fourth quarter of the Week 18 game against the New York Jets.
It remains to be seen how defensive coordinator Bobby Babich and head coach Sean McDermott will handle the situation, but the good news is that cornerback Tre'Davious White will likely resume his role as the starter opposite cornerback Christian Benford.White and Hairston have been in the rotation since the goalie took a knee to start the game.
This week's practices should reveal a lot about how they plan to replace Hairston's snaps, whether it's a combination of veteran cornerback Dane Jackson, rookie defensive back Jordan Hancock, or maybe even defensive back Daryl Porter Jr., who was just signed to Buffalo's practice squad.Porter was part of the 91-man squad over the summer, and his most likely route to play against Jacksonville could be through special teams.
None of the current options outside of White are ideal, but this is not new territory for the Bills.It's unfortunate that Darius Slay Jr. refused to report to the Bills' drive after general manager Brandon Beane made a successful claim for his services.
