Orchard Park, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott revealed Monday that an ankle injury to rookie first-round pick Maxwell Hairston will likely keep him out of the team’s first playoff game this Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
With Hairston expected to miss the game, the Bills had to fill in for him. Buffalo announced Wednesday that it has signed veteran cornerback Dane Jackson to the 53-man roster.
To make room for Jackson, the Bills placed veteran defensive tackle Jordan Phillips on injured reserve, effectively ending his season. The 33-year-old is in his third stint with the Bills and has provided strong depth at the position this season while battling multiple injuries. Veteran DaQuan Jones is still dealing with a calf injury and will be limited in practice on Wednesday.
Jackson spent most of the season on the Bills’ practice squad, but had made the playoffs with Buffalo in previous seasons. Jackson left the Bills in 2024 when he signed a free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers. He was released after just one season and found his way back to the Bills.
Bills coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday that Jackson has always been a guy who has done a great job for Buffalo.
“The first time he was here, the first time he showed up, you immediately notice the intangibles that Dane Jackson brings to the table,” McDermott said. “His toughness, his football instinct, his workmanlike attitude and he’s a great teammate. It’s great to have someone like Dane that we can rely on in a situation like this.”
Jackson was promoted from the practice squad three games into this season, but only played three snaps on defense. Christian Benford and Tre’Davious White are expected to be the starting duo against the Jaguars, but Jackson would be the next man up if either player is injured in the game.
White took a similar route back to the Bills last offseason after stops with the Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Ravens in 2024. He’s been remarkably durable for a player who has endured two season-ending injuries (a torn ACL and a torn Achilles) in 2021 and 2023. He started 15 games this season after missing the Open for Thegro Bills.
Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich was asked Monday what White’s return to the team meant this season.
“A lot, and I think it’s pretty obvious,” he said. “I feel like he’s feeling like he’s himself again, which is really important. It’s hard to play pro football when you don’t feel like you’re fully back, especially at this position. … I think it all kind of comes together for him, being here, being back with (Benford), helping get some young money. And I think it all matters.”
The move to sign Jackson to the 53-man roster gives the Bills more flexibility to make roster moves this weekend. If not signed to the 53-man roster, Buffalo would have to use one of its two practice squads on Jackson. Now the Bills have another challenge if they want to bring up defensive end Andre Jones Jr., who has played well in his three late-season games.
Bills kicker Matt Prater is expected to test the injured quad on Thursday and will not practice on Wednesday. Buffalo signed veteran tight end Matthew Wright to their practice squad on Tuesday after he flew to Buffalo for another tryout. Wright played for the Houston Texans and went 1-for-1 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra points in Houston’s Week 10 win over the Jaguars.
Running back Ty Johnson (ankle) and linebacker Matt Milano (illness) did not practice Wednesday. Tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee), safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring) and linebacker Shaq Thompson were limited in Buffalo’s passing game.
McDermott announced that the Bills have opened a 21-day practice window for veteran safety Damar Hamlin, who spent most of the season on the bench with an injured pectoral muscle.
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