Struggling on defense, the Bills still sit 5-1 thanks to Josh Allen’s usual run of strong play. But Buffalo will make a move to potentially bolster its defense midway through the season.
Tre’Davious White is returning to the team. White is joining the Bills’ practice squad, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The move will precede a vault back to Buffalo’s active roster. The former Bills All-Pro turned down opportunities elsewhere, preferring a return to Buffalo.
The Bills rank 31st in total defense and 31st against the pass. Their secondary has struggled, most recently engaging in shootouts with the Rams and Raiders. The trade deadline will be a point to monitor for the Bills, who have already invested considerable draft capital at these positions (via the first- and second-round choices used on Maxwell Hairston, Cole Bishop and Davison Igbinosun).
White, 31, will come back after playing out a one-year contract with the Bills last season. He ended up logging a 71.38% defensive snap share, good for third on the team, and totaled 40 tackles, 10 passes defensed and an interception. Pro Football Focus ranked White’s performance a respectable 49th among 106 corners. White, of course, also spent the first seven seasons of his career in Buffalo, earning a pair of All-Pro nods.
During his two previous stints with the organization, he played under defensive-minded head coach Sean McDermott. Joe Brady is now running the show, with Jim Leonhard tasked with guiding the defense. It will be interesting to see if White is still heavily relied on under this new leadership, but at the very least, the veteran can provide the staff with some steady veteran depth.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
