As Buffalo Bills training camp approaches, we spotlight the team’s healthy defensive backfield. It's something the Bills haven't been used to for a while.
When the season starts, it will be closing in on two years since Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde and Tre'Davious White were all on the field at the same time for the Bills.
For the first time since Thanksgiving 2021, the big three were all on the practice field at the same for the Bills offseason workouts. White returned in the middle of last season after recovering from that torn ACL against the Saints two seasons ago. Hyde left the Bills week two win over the Titans with a scary neck injury last season and missed the rest of the season. Poyer remained semi-healthy. He finished the season, tested free agency and returned. The trio are all healthy going into camp next week.
As expected, White was not the player we’ve come to know last season coming off a knee injury. Between returning to play and spring workouts, it will be interesting to see how close he is to returning to the pre-injury pro bowl cornerback he was.
Hyde was set to return had the Bills beat the Bengals in the playoffs, but that didn't happen. After a serious neck injury, Hyde is someone to keep an eye on when hitting starts to see if he remains the same player. The safety touched on that this spring saying mentally you have to be wired differently to play in the NFL. Hyde looked like himself this spring.
Poyer was not expected to be back, but free agency for the safety position wasn't what was expected. His return is, for sure, a welcome sight. Poyer also dealt with an elbow injury last year during camp as well as a rib injury during the season that prevented him from flying so he drive to Kansas City for the Chiefs game.
The three being healthy coming out of camp will be huge, as the big-name quarterbacks the Bills face this year includes Aaron Rodgers, who now calls the AFC East home with the New York Jets.
Up next, we will take a look at the backend of the wide receiver group with some new faces joining the roster.