Tag: Kaiir Elam

Bills’ Kaiir Elam activated from injured reserve

#Bills’ Kaiir Elam activated from injured reserve:

The Buffalo Bills have added cornerback Kaiir Elam to the team’s 53-man roster, activating him from the injured reserve list.

The Bills (9-6) did not have to make a corresponding move as the roster already had an open space on it after placing defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (wrist) on injured reserve last week.

Elam landed on injured reserve on Nov. 2 due to an ankle injury. Buffalo opened his 21-day practice window on Dec. 6.

Prior to injury, Elam appeared in three games for the Bills this season but underwhelmed. Pro Football Focus has graded Elam a below average mark of 58.8 in those outings.

Elam then was a healthy scratch but Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane later revealed the defender had been dealing with the injury and soon after he was placed on IR.

In the time since his departure from the lineup, the Bills have traded for cornerback Rasul Douglas. When the secondary is at full health, Douglas and Christian Benford have started. Dane Jackson has been the No. 3 in that rotation and it’s likely that Elam would be behind Jackson on the depth chart.

Elam was the team’s first-round pick at the 2022 NFL draft.

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Bills’ Kaiir Elam details dealing with torn foot ligament since the preseason

Buffalo Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam details his journey from dealing with a torn ligament in his right foot since the preseason.

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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Could Bills have Dawson Knox, Kaiir Elam back to face Chiefs?

Status updates for Knox and Elam:

The Buffalo Bills head to the Kansas City Chiefs for an important Week 14 matchup. There’s a chance that one of the two players the team activated from injured reserve after their bye week will play.

The Buffalo Bills (6-6) opened the 21-day practice windows for cornerback Kaiir Elam (ankle) and tight end Dawson Knox (wrist) earlier this week. When the Bills travel to Kansas City (8-4), it sounds like only Knox will play.

Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said on Friday that there’s a “good chance” Knox will be in the lineup.

It sounds as if Elam will need more time.

McDermott went on to note that if Knox is in the lineup, a high priority for the Bills will be getting Knox and Dalton Kincaid on the same page. The rookie tight end has been in good form with Knox sidelined, partly because of the increased playing time he has received.

“Dalton has certainly shown us what he’s capable of and taken advantage of the opportunity he’s gotten,” McDermott said. “That blend is important.”

For more injury updates from McDermott, see the attached Bills Live clip below:

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Bills designate Dawson Knox, Kaiir Elam to return from injured reserve

#Bills designate Dawson Knox, Kaiir Elam to return from injured reserve:

The Buffalo Bills opened the 21-day windows for tight end Dawson Knox and cornerback Kaiir Elam to practice on Wednesday.

The transactions come as Buffalo (6-6) returns from its bye week and prepares to face the Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) in Week 14.

Knox has missed five games since having surgery for a wrist injury. He had 15 catches for 102 yards and a touchdown through four games.

Elam has missed four games since being placed on IR with an ankle injury. That initial move came as a surprise and following the acquisition of cornerback Rasul Douglas at the 2023 NFL trade deadline. Elam was previously considered a healthy scratch before the move to IR.

Knox and Elam now have 21 days to practice before the Bills have to either add them to their 53-man roster or else they are reverted back to injured reserve again and cannot return for the remain there for the year.

It’s unclear if either will play in Kansas City just yet. Bills Wire will provide updates as information is made available throughout the upcoming week.

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Bills at Chiefs: 5 storylines to watch for in Week 14

#Bills at #Chiefs: 5 storylines to watch for in Week 14:

The Buffalo Bills will turn the page of their 2023 NFL season to Week 14 and the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Bills (6-6) are fresh off their bye week and a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles prior to that. Buffalo will hope get back to their winning ways in Kansas City, however, the Chiefs (8-4) will be no pushover as there is plenty on the line ahead of this matchup.

But before we even get to kickoff, there will be a lot of Bills-related discussions and conversations to be had throughout the coming days.

With that, here are five storylines to watch for during the lead up to Bills vs. Chiefs on Sunday:

Stat shows depleted Bills defense unable to close games this season

Stat shows depleted #Bills defense unable to close games this season:

At the end of last season, the Buffalo Bills had a defense that many NFL teams feared. They had held opponents to the second-lowest points per game while securing 17 interceptions, generating 40 sacks, and forcing 11 fumbles. Buffalo’s defensive prowess helped propel the Bills to the No. 1 seed during the regular season.

Many fans and experts predicted Buffalo to continue to have an elite defense this year. However, injuries to many of their defensive stars have prevented their continued success.

Injuries across the defense, from defensive lineman to the secondary, have been rife with four players heading to the injured reserve list. Tre’Davious White in Week 4 was the start, quickly followed by Da’Quan Jones and 2022 All-Pro Matt Milano in Week 5 during their international game in London. A couple weeks later, Kaiir Elam joined his teammates on IR.

And while many defenders have stepped up into these roles, the performances have been noticeably different. Especially in the most difficult part of the game for defenders – near the end.

Now, the Bills defense is still creating takeaways (11 interceptions in 12 games, on pace with last year) and getting to opposing quarterbacks and forcing fumbles more. In fact, they already beat last year’s sack total and forced more fumbles before they reached their bye week, with five more games remaining.

But the Bills have comfortably won a handful games this season, including against the Raiders, Commanders, Dolphins, and Jets. And in those games, the Buffalo defense have generated turnovers in the air and on the ground while getting to the opposing quarterbacks several times.

It’s the games a team loses that usually show the defensive issues.

Currently, Buffalo is 6-6, and in their six games they have lost, their defensive has given up a lot of points.

Especially compared to last year’s Bills.. And especially at the end of games.

The 2023 Bills, in the fourth quarter and overtime, have given up more points that the 2022 Bills did in the entire season, according to independent Buffalo journalist Jerry Sullivan. And no matter how many turnovers a defense generates throughout the game, if they cannot stop offenses from scoring at the end of games then they will have trouble winning. Especially when they have been in 7 one-score games this season, winning only 2 of those games against below average teams (4-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 4-8 New York Giants).

The hope will be that Bills head coach Sean McDermott, who took over defensive coordinator duties during the offseason, will be able to use the upcoming bye week to address this issue:

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Bills’ Brandon Beane ‘hopeful’ on Kaiir Elam, had no intention to trade him

What BB said about Kaiir Elam, post-trade deadline:

Plenty of the Buffalo Bills and the 2023 NFL trade deadline surrounded the likes of cornerback Kaiir Elam.

Despite all that happened, Elam still has the backing of Brandon Beane.

Just before the deadline, Beane struck a deal with the Green Bay Packers to acquire veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas.

That comes amid Elam’s streak of being inactive on game day.

Since the trade, Elam has been placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury which popped up. Regardless, there are still the clear signs that he’s buried on the depth chart. Not a good sign for a former first-round pick.

Even so, Beane is still believing in Elam’s ability. Both in words and actions.

Beane discussed how he still has confidence in Elam. He also shut down any notion that Elam was going to be traded ahead of the deadline–And acted on that by not sending him out.

“Kaiir, not everything’s been perfect,” Beane said. “I’m still very hopeful.”

In a follow-up question, Beane went on to immediately shoot down the notion of trading Elam as well.

That sounds much better than the recent comments of Sean McDermott. Buffalo’s head coach, when asked why Elam was inactive against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week in favor of veteran Josh Norman, said he wants players “who can help us win.”

Beane’s full comments on Elam following the trade for Douglas can be found in the Bills Live clip below:

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Buffalo Bills place CB Kaiir Elam on injured reserve

#Bills place CB Kaiir Elam on injured reserve:

Cornerback Kaiir Elam has been placed on the injured reserve list by the Buffalo Bills.

The team announced the transaction on Thursday with a corresponding move. Veteran defensive tackle Linval Joseph has signed with the Bills (5-3), taking Elam’s roster spot.

It’s unclear how long Elam will remain on injured reserve. According to Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane, Elam had been dealing with an ankle injury and he had hinted that the defender might end up on an injury designation.

In addition to signing Joseph this week, the Bills traded for cornerback Rasul Douglas in a deal with the Green Bay Packers ahead of the 2023 NFL trade deadline which was on Tuesday.

Elam’s name was tossed into trade rumors prior to the deadline, but he remains in Buffalo. Beane also supported Elam following the acquisition of Douglas. Throughout parts of the 2023 season, the former first-round pick has been a health scratch.

Bills Wire will continue to provide all updates regarding the team’s roster throughout the 2023 season.

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Bills’ Sean McDermott explains playing Josh Norman over Kaiir Elam

#Bills’ Sean McDermott explains playing Josh Norman over Kaiir Elam:

If the writing wasn’t on the wall for Kaiir Elam, it has to be now… and just ahead of the 2023 NFL trade deadline.

The former first-round pick of the Buffalo Bills (5-3) at the 2022 NFL draft did not play in the team’s 24-18 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4).

That comes in a recent line of disappointments for Elam. The second-year pro is putting his best foot forward and being professional when called upon, but Elam started the season inactive for four-straight games.

Elam only got back in the lineup due to injury but eventually was benched, in game.

The latest blow is Buffalo’s coaching staff putting Elam back on the inactive list for veteran Josh Norman. Having signed to the practice squad, the Bills burned one of Norman’s call-ups from the practice squad just so he could play five snaps on special teams instead of allowing Elam to do so.

Not a good sign.

Since that Thursday win for Buffalo, Elam’s name has now but tossed into trade rumors. The 2023 NFL trade deadline is on Tuesday.

During McDermott’s post-game presser, the coach surprisingly didn’t downplay why Elam was out of the lineup. McDermott said he wants players in the lineup that can “help us win.”

Which, evidently, does not include Elam.

McDermott’s full comments on the Norman over Elam decision can be found in the clip below:

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Report: Bills’ Kaiir Elam has garnered trade interest

Kaiir Elam on the trade block? He is according to a report:

The Buffalo Bills might be looking to already turn the page on the Kaiir Elam experiment.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the second-year cornerback is a player that has received trade interest from other teams as the NFL’s 2023 trade deadline approaches.

It remains to be seen if the Bills have enough interest in dealing him to make a move.

Elam was Buffalo’s first-round pick at the 2022 NFL draft. The team traded up two positions to select him.

Aside from showing his potential at the end of his rookie season, Elam has failed to find a groove in the league to this point.

The upcoming 2023 trade deadline is slated for Tuesday.

In his first season, Elam made six starts. He began this year inactive for four-straight games until injury to Tre’Davious White (Achilles) and Dane Jackson (foot) forced the Bills’ hand and Elam had to start.

However, Elam ended up getting pulled from the lineup late upon making his first start of the season. Eventually, Elam was reduced to special teams snaps and then was inactive again in Buffalo’s most recent outing, a 24-18 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8. Veteran Josh Norman was instead called up to the practice squad.

“Yeah, we want the players, at this point, and we feel like every decision we make is who can help us win,” head coach Sean McDermott explained post game. “We wanted to see what Josh (Norman) could do there.”

General manager Brandon Beane as not been shy about making trades during his tenure in Buffalo. Specifically on deadline day, Beane has been known to pull the trigger on a deal.

At last year’s deadline, Beane acquired running back Nyheim Hines in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts.

Bills Wire will provide full coverage of the upcoming trade deadline.

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