Jordan

Poyer

Jordan Poyer will also miss this game with a hamstring issue. Neither player was able to practice before today. The Bills will be undermanned in the secondary as they travel to take on the Broncos in Denver. Per usual, it will be up to Josh Allen to put the team on his bcak this week.

2025 fifth-round pick Jordan Hancock replaced Poyer at safety and will likely be asked to do so going forward. The Bills don’t have much star-level talent on defense this year, so they’re asking a lot out of McDermott’s coaching to help them spring a road upset of the No. 1 seeded Broncos on Saturday.

Poyer went down with the hamstring issue in the second quarter. He was listed as questionable to return but the team eventually ruled him out after halftime. The Bills’ secondary will be undermanned for the rest of the game, with 2025 fifth-round pick Jordan Hancock expected to take over.

Shavers injured his left knee while on punt coverage in the second quarter. He quickly left for the locker room and was listed as questionable to return. With Josh Palmer now on IR, the Bills would be forced to lean on Keon Coleman, Gabe Davis, and Brandin Cooks for wide receiver snaps if Shavers is done for the day. Bills S Jordan Poyer (hamstring) is also questionable to return.

Michael Badgley will again draw the start in place of Prater. Badgley went 2-for-3 on extra points last week and also made his only field goal attempt. Badgley has made 11-of-12 field goal attempts this season while splitting time between the Colts and Bills, and could be a worthwhile streaming option if needed. In addition to Prater, the Bills also ruled out DT Jordan Phillips and S Jordan Poyer. Backup safety Jordan Hancock will likely start in Poyer’s absence.

Bosa dealt with a hamstring injury earlier this month. It is unclear whether this one threatens his Week 17 availability. The Bills were also without S Jordan Poyer (hamstring) and DT Jordan Phillips (ankle) on Wednesday. Defensive players who were limited include CB Taron Johnson (quad), S Cam Lewis (hamstring) and LB Shaq Thompson (neck).

The Bills waived Poyer, but it is likely just a formality while the team signs Gabe Davis to the practice squad. Davis will be moved to the injured list with Poyer re-joining the practice squad afterward. The 34-year-old started 16 games for the Dolphins last season after spending seven seasons in Buffalo prior.

Poyer made first-team All-Pro in 2021 and went to the Pro Bowl in 2022 while playing with the Bills. The 34-year-old safety spent 2024 with the Dolphins, where he started 16 games and had 98 tackles. The Bills already have Cole Bishop and Taylor Rapp as starting safeties, though Bishop has had a shaky training camp and preseason. The Bills also signed to their practice squad QB Shane Buechele, RB Frank Gore Jr., WR Stephen Gosnell, WR Kristian Wilkerson, TE Keleki Latu, OL Travis Clayton, OL Dan Feeney, OL Kendrick Green, DT Zion Logue, DT Jordan Phillips, LB Jimmy Ciarlo, LB Keonta Jenkins, CB Daequan Hardy, CB Dane Jackson and S Sam Franklin.

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.