Jordan Poyer returns to the Buffalo Bills, and Rachel Bush’s homecoming post adds a fresh spark for Bills Mafia as Hard Knocks settles in. Buffalo hopes the veteran safety anchors a secondary that endured injuries and preseason bumps.

All-Pro form in 2021, Poyer logged 682 tackles, 48 pass breakups, 22 interceptions and eight forced fumbles across his Bills tenure. His presence should steady Damar Hamlin and Cole Bishop while boosting the unit’s leadership as the season unfolds.

The Dolphins loom early, giving the reunion extra urgency. From a fantasy lens, Poyer’s return could raise the floor for Bills safeties and cornerbacks, and the defense’s ceiling may rise as the back end clicks.

Buffalo signed Forrest for veteran depth at safety, but spring camp didn’t push him past Hamlin or Bishop. A shoulder injury limited his 2023 tape, and an August cut trimmed Buffalo’s long list of safeties.

With Hamlin and Bishop leading, Rapp back as a steady option, and Hancock moving to safety as needed, Forrest’s departure narrows the path for veterans and widens the upside for the Bills’ younger backs, signaling a depth-forward approach for the season.

The Buffalo Bills are choosing health over heat in the final preseason test, keeping Josh Allen on the bench for the Tampa Bay showdown. That decision isn’t a retreat from victory, it’s a plan to maximize the regular season’s impact, especially given Allen’s MVP-winning 2023 form. Buffalo will still roll out starters in other spots, testing depth at safety and wide receiver as it finalizes the Week 1 roster. Cole Bishop will be tested as the likely starter opposite Taylor Rapp, with the safety room competing to lock down continuity for Buffalo’s back end.

The receiver picture remains unsettled behind the top trio of Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Joshua Palmer, with Curtis Samuel, Elijah Moore, Laviska Shenault, and others vying for the remaining two to three roles. Samuel’s footing has been inconsistent due to injuries, while Shakir’s durability and Palmer’s veteran savvy push the competition toward a two- or three-way rotation. Allen, meanwhile, has already built starter-time chemistry in joint practices with Chicago, reducing preseason reps but preserving the connection expected to drive the offense once the season begins.

Injuries have clouded the position battles, and Buffalo is navigating cutdowns with an eye toward Week 1. Gabe Davis, a former Bills receiver, showed up for a visit as he seeks a new fit, and Tre’Davious White’s practice absence adds another layer of pivots to the defensive unit. The Bills’ approach balances protecting Allen with testing the rest of the unit, aiming to preserve the core while maximizing upside in the regular season. Fantasy managers should watch how the WR depth chart stabilizes and how the safety rotation shapes target distribution and game plans in September.