Buffalo Bills safety Taylor Rapp was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury and head coach Sean McDermott plans to use a familiar face to fill the void.
McDermott said Jordan Poyer would be the next man up with Rapp out, starting Sunday against the host Carolina Panthers. Rapp has been dealing with a knee injury since training camp and safety Damar Hamlin is already on IR.
“Jordan wouldn’t be back if we didn’t have a lot of confidence and trust in him,” McDermott said.
Poyer, 34, signed to the practice squad prior to the season, made his 2025 debut against the Atlanta Falcons before Buffalo’s bye week. He played for the Bills from 2017-23 with 107 starts in those seven seasons before spending the 2024 season with the Miami Dolphins.
Wide receiver Curtis Samuel (ribs) returned to practice Friday and is expected to play against the Panthers.
Defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (calf) and wide receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle/knee) are also out Sunday.
Buffalo did not make a decision on whether to activate rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston for Week 8. The first-round pick began practicing on Wednesday, the start of his 21-day window to return from a knee injury.
“He’s done some good things,” McDermott said. “He really has. Again, just managing the expectations.”
McDermott said tight end Dalton Kincaid (oblique) was again limited on Friday and is questionable along with linebackers Matt Milano (pectoral) and Terrel Bernard (ankle).