The Buffalo Bills made a bold change regarding the starting safety position during the 2024 offseason, parting ways with their top two starters. Both players spent seven seasons in Buffalo and started over 95 regular season games. The Bills decided to roll with Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin as the starting safeties, while rookie second-round pick Cole Bishop as the top backup. So far, the experiment has worked out as Rapp and Hamlin combine for 132 tackles, four TFLs, four interceptions, 11 pass deflections, and one forced fumble.
13.5 weeks have passed, and one of their former starters remains unsigned.
The Buffalo Bills’ veteran Pro Bowler remains unsigned
Heading into Wednesday, captain, leader, and well-respected player in the locker room, safety Micah Hyde remained a free agent throughout the first 13.5 weeks of the 2024 regular season. As previously mentioned, Hyde spent the last seven seasons in Buffalo, recording 417 tackles, ten TFLs, 16 interceptions, one pick-six, 42 pass deflections, and three forced fumbles in 95 regular season game starts, earning a Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honors in 2017 and another second-team All-Pro honors in 2021. He considered retirement, and if he were to return for a 12th season in the NFL, it would be with the Bills.
The Buffalo Bills made it happen
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Bills signed Micah Hyde to their practice squad. As Rapoport points out, Hyde, 33, will return to Buffalo for his eighth season.
The #Bills have signed back veteran S Micah Hyde, bringing him onto the practice squad. Back for his eighth season in Buffalo at 33 years old.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 4, 2024
What will his role be?
Sean McDermott assured the media that Micah Hyde would not start right away and would serve in a practice squad role. McDermott also said he has confidence in their top three safeties. “Micah Hyde is in a practice squad role,” head coach Sean McDermott said. “Extremely confident in Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin and Cole Bishop.”
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