Bills Make Roster Move on Veteran CB After Receiving Devastating Injury Update
The Buffalo Bills have taken some big hits in their secondary, leading the team to call on a familiar face to help against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Bills have placed two safeties on injured reserve in the last few weeks and dealt with lingering injuries among the cornerback group. The team tapped veteran Dane Jackson to help against the Chiefs, calling him up from the practice squad for the first time this season.
Jackson’s elevation could be a troubling sign for another Bills cornerback who was a late addition to the injury report this week.
Dane Jackson’s Comeback Now Complete
Jackson came into the NFL as a seventh-round pick by the Bills in 2020, carving out a role as a reliable cornerback who made 28 starts in 52 total appearances in Buffalo. Jackson left prior to the 2024 season, signing with the Carolina Panthers and starting three games.
The Bills brought Jackson back this offseason, signing him to the practice squad after he missed the team’s final cuts in August.
This will be Jackson’s first elevation from the practice squad this season, giving the team some insurance in case nickel cornerback Taron Johnson is unable to play. Johnson was a very late addition to the injury report, being listed as questionable on Friday despite practicing in full all week — suggesting that he suffered the injury in the team’s final practice of the week.
SI.com’s Ralph Ventre suggested that Jackson’s elevation could be a troubling sign for Johnson’s availability against the Chiefs.
“Jackson’s elevation was likely inspired by starting nickel cornerback Taron Johnson’s questionable status,” Ventre wrote. “In a troubling development, Johnson became a new addition to the injury report with a groin issue on Friday.”
The Bills have already lost starting safety Taylor Rapp, who was placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss the rest of the season. The team also put backup safety Damar Hamlin on injured reserve, prompting them to sign Jordan Poyer to the active squad from the practice squad.
Bills Add Help on the Defensive Line
The Bills also announced that defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis was elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s game, adding depth to another position hit hard by injuries. The team placed defensive tackle Ed Oliver on injured reserve and ruled fellow lineman DaQuan Jones out for the game with a calf injury.
“Mathis gives Buffalo four available interior linemen for Sunday’s game against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ high-powered attack, which ranks fifth in the NFL (378.3),” Ventre noted. “He joins a rotation that includes Larry Ogunjobi, Jordan Phillips and fourth-round rookie Deone Walker.”
Slowing the Chiefs could be a challenge for the Bills given their injuries and momentum that Kansas City has generated since the return of Rashee Rice. Despite starting the season with two straight losses, the Chiefs have steadied the ship and won five out of their last six games.
Both the Bills and Chiefs are in an unfamiliar spot — looking up at the top of the division. The Bills fell in second behind the New England Patriots, while the Chiefs are behind the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers.
Commanders QB Sam Hartman provides spicy response to mom who called him hot
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman isn’t about to win the starting job. That pretty firmly belongs to Jayden Daniels. Instead, Hartman is winning the hearts of fans, and in particular, one fan’s mom who thinks he’s hot.
With training camp underway, one fan approached Hartman while he was signing autographs for fans. That fan, while recording, asked him to shout out her mom, Susan. After all, this fan’s mom thinks that the Washington quarterback is a good-looking guy.
“Susan, I don’t discriminate from age,” Sam Hartman smiled. “But I appreciate your support.”
The fan’s mom isn’t the first person who has come to that conclusion about Sam Hartman. Going back to his time in college at Wake Forest and then Notre Dame, fans would point out that they think he’s an attractive guy. So, Hartman has probably been told directly that he’s hot before. It’s harder to say how often it’s been said on behalf of another, and in particular, a parent, though.
Hartman also knows how to dress well. That’s something the other quarterbacks in Washington have noticed recently. Before the Commanders’ preseason game against the New England Patriots earlier in August, Hartman arrived wearing a stylish suit. At the time, other quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota had workout clothes on, and Daniels took the time to poke fun at Hartman. He shouted, “GQ! GQ!” as Hartman made his way into the locker room.
After his college career, Sam Hartman would go undrafted before signing with the Commanders in 2024. He spent time both on the active roster and on the practice squad last season, splitting time based on backup quarterback Marcus Mariota’s health. Now, he’s battling in preseason to make the team in 2025, so that’s more likely his focus than on what moms are finding him hot.
In that game against the Patriots, Hartman went 9/19 passing for 64 yards and an interception. Josh Johnson was the only other quarterback who played for Washington during that game. So, following how that develops throughout the rest of training camp will be interesting.
The Commanders have high hopes for the 2025 season. After going to the NFC Championship Game last year, the Commanders want to take another leap forward. That’s going to rely on Jayden Daniels at quarterback living up to his potential. Of course, with an injury, Washington can’t afford for the season to go sideways, and that’s when they’ll need those backup quarterbacks to step up.
