Bills S Jordan Poyer out vs. Dolphins with knee injury: Could the Bills activate Damar Hamlin?

Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins, coach Sean McDermott said Friday. Here’s what you need to know:

Poyer, who earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2022, started all three games for the Bills this season but missed practice this week due to a knee injury.
Through Week 3, Poyer made 10 solo tackles and four assisted tackles.
Poyer signed a two-year deal to return to the Bills in March. He has been a captain of the team for four straight seasons.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

Who replaces Poyer?

This is a big blow to the Bills’ secondary. Poyer and Micah Hyde have been one of the best safety tandems in the NFL since arriving in Buffalo and they are a big reason why Buffalo has been so effective at limiting big plays. Since Poyer and Hyde got to Buffalo, no defense is better at limiting passing plays of 20-plus yards than the Bills are.

Without Poyer, Taylor Rapp, who signed this offseason as a free agent, will likely start alongside Hyde. But with how well the Dolphins throw the ball, the Bills may need extra defensive backs active on game day and could even use three safeties on the field at times. That becomes a lot more difficult with Poyer out. The Bills were 12-0 in games in which Poyer was active last season and 1-3 when he was inactive. One of those losses was in Week 3 against Miami last season. His communication in the secondary is a big part of what makes Buffalo’s defense operate as well as it does. — Fairburn

What to expect from Rapp

Rapp, it’s time for your close-up.

The Bills made Rapp a priority free agent because 32-year-olds Poyer and Hyde have endured a lot of injuries. Hyde, who will turn 33 in December, missed all but three games last year with a neck injury. Poyer missed time with a hyperextended elbow, a sprained foot, rib injuries (including a collapsed lung), a torn meniscus and a concussion.

Their physical style mandated a backup plan, and Rapp was an excellent option who could play in McDermott’s safety-reliant defensive scheme.

Rapp started for the Rams’ championship team two years ago and collected nine interceptions over his four seasons with them. But he hasn’t seen many snaps with the Bills yet, recording seven tackles and a fumble recovery. Rapp played 18 defensive snaps in the opening loss to the Jets, six in the Week 2 victory over the Raiders and 10 in last week’s domination of the Commanders. He has played 36 special teams snaps, though, and that’s where Damar Hamlin might see his first action this year. — Graham

Speaking of Hamlin …

This could also pave the way for Hamlin to be active for the first time this season. Hamlin, who suffered cardiac arrest during a game between the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2, hasn’t suited up for a game yet this season because there are other safeties ahead of him on the depth chart and he’s not a contributor on special teams. But with Poyer out, the Bills may elect to have Hamlin active in case of another injury.

Hamlin played well in preseason action, so he should be ready if the Bills need him. — Fairburn

Backstory

Hamlin was listed as the team’s backup safety with Cam Lewis throughout Bills training camp and preseason games. Hamlin made the Bills’ 53-man roster at the end of August after going through the non-padded ramp-up period to begin camp, being a full participant in padded practices and being a willing tackler and special teams player in full-contact preseason games.

All summer long, Hamlin didn’t miss a single practice. Doctors cleared Hamlin to resume football activities in April, and Buffalo’s training staff continued to monitor him closely during training camp.

Required reading

(Photo: Bryan M. Bennett / Getty Images)