Another bit of bad news for Buffalo Bills fans.
In a positive spin, it’s great to hear a good update regarding the health of safety and fan favorite Micah Hyde.
But it’s a huge bummer under the current circumstances.
The Bills’ 2022 season abruptly ended early in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs on Sunday. The Cincinnati Bengals knocked out the Bills to the tune of a 27-10 final.
Had things gone differently, Hyde would have gotten back out there.
A day following the loss, players, Hyde included, spoke at locker cleanout day. As it typically goes, things are revealed since there is no upcoming opponent. No more gamesmanship required.
Due to a neck injury, Hyde had not suited up for the Bills since Week 2. He said via video conference on Monday he was going to do exactly that next weekend if Buffalo beat Cincinnati and advanced to the AFC championship.
“Well, actually, I got cleared,” Hyde said. “Next game I was going to be able to go out there and play.”
Hyde has roamed the secondary in Buffalo next to Jordan Poyer at safety since 2017. Until this year, the two have stayed remarkably healthy, all things considered with the way the NFL can be. The duo have missed and game or two here and there, but never to the extent Hyde did in 2022.
Hyde noted that he was cleared “late” last week. A few days prior, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said Hyde was ruled out and would “not see action” against the Bengals.
McDermott saying that wouldn’t have made much of a difference. Had the team felt it was the smart play to activate him even after McDermott said that, they would have.
Hyde likely just wasn’t involved enough in game preparations. After not playing since September, it’s probably smart to not just throw a guy back out there even if he’s a Pro Bowl quality defender.
Plus, the team really could have used him. Not only was Damar Hamlin out for the foreseeable future, backup Dean Marlowe sustained a groin injury against Cincinnati.
After the realization set in for Hyde, he admitted 2022 was a roller coaster. Between being injured, recovering, and coming so close to a return, that’s an understandable feeling.
“This has been the most unique season, obviously, I’ve ever been apart of. Just working my way back to be part of this team. To go out there and try to help in any way I could,” Hyde said. “Just a lot of highs and lows this year.”
Not to mention, Poyer is a free agent.
The two have been a tandem in Orchard Park for years and an appearance in the AFC title game could have been at least one more time the two played next to one another. That is, if Poyer could play as he was injured late against the Bengals.
Now Buffalo and the Bills locker room will move forward wondering if the two will get another shot at doing that in 2023.
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