Bills Elevate One Player from Practice Squad for Week 3

The Buffalo Bills are adding some backup to their defensive backfield ahead of Sunday's Week 3 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Buffalo announced Saturday that defensive back Te'Cory Couch has been elevated from the practice squad for Sunday's game at Highmark Stadium. Couch is the only Bills practice squad player being brought up for the game.

As far as why, it's pretty obvious.

The move comes after the Bills placed defensive back Jordan Hancock on injured reserve Friday. Hancock missed Thursday and Friday's practices with a hamstring injury before Buffalo officially moved him to IR.

He will miss at least the next four games.

Couch gives the Bills another defensive back available against Los Angeles as the team deals with Hancock's absence. Buffalo has also dealt with injuries elsewhere in the secondary early in the season, making additional depth particularly important heading into Week 3.

The 27-year-old Couch is listed at 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds and played his college football at Miami. He originally signed with Buffalo as an undrafted free agent in May 2024 and has remained in the organization through multiple practice-squad stints and reserve/future contracts.

Couch spent the 2024 season on Buffalo's practice squad after being waived at the end of the preseason. He returned to the organization on a reserve/future contract following the season and was again with the Bills during the 2025 offseason. After dealing with a hamstring injury during the 2025 preseason, Couch returned to Buffalo's practice squad in November before signing another reserve/future contract in January 2026.

Couch was among the 17 players Buffalo signed to its 2026 practice squad on Aug. 31. He remained there through the first two weeks of the regular season before receiving his elevation for Sunday's game.

While the elevation puts Couch in a position to play against the Chargers, it does not necessarily mean he will have a significant defensive role. His opportunity will depend on how Buffalo uses its available defensive backs throughout the game, along with any adjustments made by defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.

The Bills enter Sunday's game 2-0 after opening the season with wins over the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions. The Chargers enter the matchup 0-2, making it an interesting matchup between two teams that hoped to be AFC contenders this season.

For Couch, he now has an opportunity to make his regular-season debut for the Bills, and, should his number be called, make an impact on a defense that needs all the help it can get.