Amid the Buffalo Bills having struggles at cornerback, fans are hoping first-round pick and rookie Maxwell Hairston will return to save the defense.
Buffalo's cornerback situation is a mess currently. Christian Benford has been a major disappointment after getting an extension in the offseason and Tre'Davious White is a shell of the player he was during his first stint in Buffalo.
Meanwhile, Hairston has been sidelined since training camp due to an LCL injury. He was eligible to come off injured reserve after Week 4, but he remains on the list as the Bills go into their Week 7 bye.
On Tuesday, head coach Sean McDermott said that Hairston's 21-day window could be opened after the bye, which is no doubt a positive.
But he also noted noted everyone should be "managing expectations" and suggested "being realistic" about what Hairston will be able to offer upon his return.
Bills HC Sean McDermott once again brings up "managing expectations" and "being realistic" when it comes to rookie CB Maxwell Hairston if/when they open up the 21-day practice window considering all the practice time he's missed this year.
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) October 14, 2025
It is certainly fair to point out what McDermott did about the rookie.
After all, Hairston has missed a ton of time since suffering his injury in July, so it's going to take time for him to get acclimated and earn the trust of the coaching staff before he moves into a significant role.
Not only is he unlikely to start upon his return, he may not play all that much, at least early on. And, who knows, he might go the rest of the season not playing meaningful snaps. Hairston is truly a total wild card.
That means the Bills simply cannot depend on the rookie to fix one of their biggest issues and instead general manager Brandon Beane has to scour the trade market to find a solution.
Beane and the Bills have two more games left before the Nov. 4 trade deadline, so there is still ample time, although the window to make an addition is slowly closing.
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