The Super Bowl-contending Buffalo Bills suffered a major setback during their blowout win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Star cornerback Tre’Davious White went down with a non-contact leg injury during the game.
The All-Pro was emotional as he was carted off the field, knowing full well that it was a serious injury. Almost immediately, the Bills ruled White out as tests were being done on his Achilles.
We now have more information on this courtesy of Bills head coach Sean McDermott. It’s not good. McDermott told the media in his day-after press conference that White did indeed suffer a torn Achilles and will be out for the remainder of the season.
From a micro level, this is a terrible blow for White. He missed the end of the 2021 campaign and a nice portion of last season while recovering from a torn ACL. Despite this, the two-time Pro Bowler had returned to form in 2023 (76.3 QB rating allowed in four games).
From a team-wide perspective, this is a massive blow. One can easily conclude that White is the Bills’ best defensive player. He had not yielded a completiong percentage of even 57 or a QB rating of 80 in his first six seasons leading up to the 2023 campaign. His loss creates a major hole for the championship contenders.
Related: NFL defense rankings heading into Week 5
Buffalo Bills cornerback options to replace Tre’Davious White
We will end up seeing teams fall out of playoff contention before now and the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline. That could create a cornerback market for the Bills to pounce on. The likes of Chidobe Awuzie (Cincinnati Bengals), Patrick Peterson (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Marco Wilson (Arizona Cardinals) could become options in this scenario.
For now, Buffalo will likely look at the NFL free agent market for an upgrade outside of the organization. The good news here is that there’s a ton of experienced players still available heading into Week 5.
- Casey Hayward: Hayward, 33, is better suited for the slot. Signing the former Pro Bowler would likely mean moving Dane Jackson into a starting role on the outside. Last season with the Falcons saw Hayward give up a mere 80.7 QB rating when targeted.
- Bradley Roby: Released by the New Orleans Saints ahead of Week 1, it’s a surprise that Roby has not latched on with a team. The San Francisco 49ers had him in for a visit back in September, meaning there is interest. Roby yielded a mere 54% completion and 79.4 QB rating when thrown at a season ago in the Bayou.
- Dane Jackson: Internally, it just makes sense for the Bills to elevate this fourth-year player. He’s only played 62 defensive snaps in four games, but did take over for White against Miami on Sunday. Jackson started 20 games over the past two seasons, giving up a 59% completion in 2022.