With 7 postseason appearances and 5 AFC East divisional championships to his credit during his stint with the Bills, Sean McDermott has overhauled the culture of a team that didn’t see a playoff spot for 17 years. The Buffalo Bills are familiar with hardship. But now McDermott is facing tough stretch as the preseason approaches its conclusion. For a coach who has established his legacy on maintaining locker room stability in times of turmoil, this scenario is one that tests his mettle. He has preached the “next man up” philosophy so many times before. But now the injuries are rolling in quicker than one can secure replacements.

Bills general manager Brandon Beane on Saturday confirmed that cornerback Tre’Davious White has suffered what he called “a little lower leg injury.” Beane sidestepped the details, declaring he didn’t want to put a timetable on it yet. “At this point, it’s just a matter of getting him through,” Beane said. “Our medical team came here, he is getting treatment, and we’ll see next week what timelines are.” Adding to the uncertainty, Beane also revealed the team has yet to decide whether rookie Maxwell Hairston will begin the season on injured reserve. Two question marks at once leave McDermott with little clarity heading into crucial preparations.

White’s injury record already hangs over the team, and any slip raises concerns about whether the Bills’ defense will be asked to patch up gaps midway through the season. On the other hand, the Hairston scenario seems sensitive. The first-year cornerback, who showed promising instincts early in camp, has been out with a knee problem since late July. McDermott admitted on Tuesday that Hairston remains “a ways away” from going through any ramp-up stage in his rehabilitation. The silver lining: He escaped a serious injury. The bad news: he has now missed three weeks and is still questionable for the Week 1 opener against the Baltimore Ravens on September 7. What was supposed to be a chance for the rookie to prove himself with early playing time has instead become another waiting game for a defense.

The double setback radiates throughout the roster. White’s injury is concerning enough considering his history. But if Hairston cannot contribute early in the year, McDermott will be left scrambling with depth charts in a position group that needs stability to withstand AFC passers. The trouble doesn’t stop there, either. Wide receiver Curtis Samuel, one of the team’s most diversified weapons, did not make the trip for the preseason game against the Buccaneers because he was ill. It’s another speed bump in a bumpy beginning for Samuel.

Who battled most of last season with an ongoing toe ailment. Rookie safety Cole Bishop is also in doubt, still attempting to fight through a quad strain after sitting out last year with a collarbone injury. Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich admitted earlier this week that Bishop’s development has been held back. He explained that the learning curve is being disrupted by his absence from steady practice reps.

Outside of those players, the attrition list keeps expanding. Running back Jarveon Howard, cornerback Te’Cory Couch, and rookie wideout Kaden Prather all went back to injured reserve after passing through waivers last week. None were expected to be starters, but the depth loss is felt. With McDermott, it’s not merely about losing star power. It’s about maintaining a working 53-man roster that hasn’t made unnecessary final cuts. The team has built a reputation on roster depth for years under Beane and McDermott. But this preseason is putting that philosophy to the test in real-time.

Bills give up on rookie while adding another

The Bills front office took a roster action on Saturday to provide some relief. They signed undrafted rookie cornerback Garnett Hollis before the preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 23-year-old West Virginia product has already been a part of the NFL carousel. He appeared for brief periods with the Tennessee Titans and Green Bay Packers during this offseason before ending up in Buffalo. Hollis. He started his collegiate career at Northwestern, impressed enough during preseason chances to continue to generate interest. And now he’ll get his opportunity to earn a role in a battered Bills defensive backfield.

But the addition wasn’t made without removing another young promise. Undrafted rookie safety Wande Owens. He was one of twelve who were signed by the Bills in May as free agents. On Monday, he was was waived-injured to clear a roster spot for Hollis. Owens, who impressed early with six tackles and a tackle for loss in exhibition play, left Thursday’s practice accompanied by a trainer. By default, he will go back on injured reserve if not claimed on waivers. For Owens, who arrived in Buffalo after a standout year at New Hampshire following four years at Yale. It’s a harsh twist in what was shaping up to be a promising summer.

The re-shuffling adds to the ruthless nature of August in the NFL. As McDermott and Beane work toward finalizing the 53-man roster by the August 26 deadline. They’re left balancing injury management, roster depth, and the hopes of undrafted players trying to break through. For a team that has grown accustomed to competing for AFC supremacy, these final preseason weeks aren’t just about fine-tuning playbooks, they’re about survival. And right now, survival means patching together a roster that can withstand September’s grind.