Jordan

Poyer

Poyer is the only Dolphin ruled out for Week 5, though they have more than their fair share of players on injured reserve and the PUP list. Poyer had 19 combined tackles through three games and was playing nearly every defensive snap for Miami before suffering the shin injury in Week 5. Though his loss will hurt the Dolphins’ secondary, the Patriots aren’t the team you’d expect to take advantage of such a weakness.

Poyer went down with the shin injury on Monday versus the Titans and did not return. He has started all four games for Miami this year and has 19 combined tackles. The Dolphins are already banged up on defense and can hardly afford to lose another starter heading into Week 5.

Poyer did not have a recorded tackle before leaving. The 33-year-old safety had 19 tackles in his first three starts with the Dolphins. Miami will use more Marcus Maye with Poyer out.

Cut by the Bills six days ago, Poyer is now headed (far) south to link up with division-rival Miami. One month shy of his 33rd birthday, Poyer had spent the past seven years in Buffalo, turning in a sustained stretch of plus play, albeit one occasionally interrupted by minor injury. Despite his advancing age, Poyer’s release was all about the cap and not his effectiveness. He’s a fall-off risk any given season now because of those advancing years, but he forms a strong on-paper tandem with Jevon Holland.

Including the playoffs, Poyer appeared in and started 18 games for the Bills in 2023. He broke up four passes, logged one sack, and was credited with 100 total tackles in the regular season alone. Still playing at a high level, Poyer was cut solely for cap purposes. The Bills, who were $42.2 million over the cap before this move, have some hard decisions to make this offseason and Poyer was one of them. Poyer will turn 33 years old before the start of the 2024 season but will still have plenty of suitors in free agency. He should find a new home as a starting safety well before the start of the season.

Poyer missed Week 4 with the knee issue after sitting out of practice for all three sessions. His return to practice on Wednesday, even in a limited capacity, bodes well for his odd of suiting up on Sunday. The Bills take on the Jags in London this week.

Poyer has struggled through the lingering knee issue and will miss a big AFC East game this Sunday against Miami. His absence is a boon for the Dolphins red-hot passing attack. Pro Football Focus grades Buffalo as the league’s second best coverage unit through Week 3.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott didn’t seem concerned about the availability of any of the players ahead of Sunday’s contest. Hyde, Floyd, and Bates were all on the bikes on the sideline and Neal was able to get in some minor workouts. As veterans, all of them should be able to play on Sunday if they can get one limited practice in this week. Against a prolific Dolphins offense, the Bills certainly need both Hyde and Poyer to be out there. Hyde missed all three games against the Dolphins last year with his neck injury.

Miller was a candidate for the PUP list all along as he looks to recover from a torn ACL suffered in late November. The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia said back in May that Miller was “in jeopardy” of missing the start of the season, which makes this something to monitor throughout camp. In addition to Miller, the Bills also placed linebacker Tyler Matakevich and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips on the PUP list. All players are eligible to come off the list at any time.