Buffalo Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam was activated from injured reserve heading into last week’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but was not ready to play for that eventual victory.
While time will tell when Elam will play since his 21-day practice window has been opened, he did reveal something that surprised.
According to the Niagara Gazette, Elam opened up about why he was underperforming to his expectation after being the 23rd overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Elam tore the deltoid ligament in his right foot in Buffalo’s third preseason game against the Chicago Bears after someone landed on his foot.
Elam began to feel discomfort in his foot in the Bills’ second preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but wanted to continue playing in an effort to win the starting cornerback job opposite Tre’Davious White.
Essentially, Elam had the option of having surgery on his ankle or continue playing through it given how much the team needed solid cornerback play following a season-ending injury to White.
Elam was eventually placed on IR on Nov. 2, giving his ankle time to heal naturally so that he could feel well enough to play and make a contribution the way he knows how. Here’s part of what Elam sad about the tough situation he was in because of his injury coupled with Buffalo’s injuries in the secondary:
“(People aren’t) in building, that’s the thing. So I don’t really put value into what they’re saying because they don’t know. All I can do is control when I get my opportunity and what I do out there, that’s all I can do. If I make a statement and say this is why, this is that, it just doesn’t really matter. I just have to go out and make plays like I know I can and get healthy.”
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