Buffalo's Struggling Defense Just Took Another Significant Hit
Six games into the 2025 season, the Buffalo Bills’ offense has far outshined the defense.
In defense of the defense, the unit has suffered quite a few injury blows so far.
Defensive tackle DaQuan Jones has been ruled out for Sunday’s Week 8 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, while linebackers Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano are listed as questionable.
Defensive tackle T.J. Sanders, safety Damar Hamlin, cornerback Dorian Strong, defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, and safety Wande Owens have also been placed on injured reserve, and on Friday the defense lost another key player when safety Taylor Rapp was also placed on IR, sidelining him for at least the next four games.
Once Rapp is healthy, the team can open his 21-day practice window, giving him three weeks to practice with the team before it has to decide to either activate him to the 53-man roster or place him back on IR for the rest of the season.
“Medically, they feel like he's not a spot where he can actually play at a level where we can function to do the job,” head coach Sean McDermott told reporters. “But give T-Rapp credit, he's gutted it out for the better part of six-plus weeks, having hurt it in training camp.”
Rapp is tied for the third-most tackles (26) on the team, and he’s played the most coverage snaps in the secondary (199).
The 27-year-old defensive back has allowed eight catches on 10 targets, he’s surrendered 112 yards and zero touchdowns, and he’s allowed a 113.3 passer rating against, according to Pro Football Focus.
McDermott stated the coaching staff is still evaluating who will play in Rapp’s absence. All three of Buffalo’s strong safeties — Rapp, Hamlin, and Owens — are on IR, while Sam Franklin Jr. and Jordan Hancock, Cole Bishop’s backups at free safety, could be fill-in options.
Former All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer, who logged 48 passes defensed and 22 interceptions while starting 107 games for the Bills from 2017 to 2023, is on the team’s practice squad. It’s likely he’s elevated for Sunday’s game.