The Buffalo Bills’ first-round pick, cornerback out of Kentucky, was expected to bolster a secondary that faltered late last season — particularly in the AFC Championship loss to the Chiefs. However, the rookie’s NFL journey has gotten off to a concerning start.
He suffered a possible lower leg injury during mandatory minicamp session and had to exit the field. While the severity of the injury is still unknown, any injury at this stage is unsettling for a team that is counting on him to play a significant role early.
The Bills were hoping he could compete for a starting job or at least provide meaningful depth in a unit that’s undergone some reshuffling. Depending on the outcome of medical evaluations, Buffalo may need to reassess their cornerback depth heading into training camp.
Maxwell Hairston’s early exit from the Buffalo Bills’ mandatory minicamp on Wednesday has sparked some concern, especially given his potential importance to the team’s secondary this season.
According to Randy Gurzi of Sports Illustrated, Hairston appeared to favor his left leg before leaving practice. While the exact severity of the injury remains unclear, the fact that Hairston stayed on the sidelines and observed the remainder of the session — rather than going immediately for extended treatment — is a somewhat reassuring sign.
Bills Digest editor Alex Brasky added further detail, noting that athletic trainers focused on Hairston’s left knee area, seemingly assessing its strength and function. That could indicate a minor sprain or strain, though nothing is confirmed at this time.
It’s especially worth monitoring because Hairston missed nearly half of the 2024 season at Kentucky with injury issues, making durability a potential concern. As a player who depends on speed, agility, and quick recovery times in coverage, any injury to the lower body is noteworthy.
That said, there’s no immediate reason to panic. It’s still early in the offseason, and the Bills will likely take a cautious approach. More definitive updates could come in the days ahead, especially if the team conducts further evaluations or MRI testing.
For now, this appears to be a situation to monitor rather than worry over, but it certainly adds a wrinkle to the Bills’ early preparations as they work to improve a defense that struggled in key moments late last season.
One Other Bills Rookie Has Impressed Early On Throughout OTAs
The Buffalo Bills entered the 2025 offseason with a clear focus: reload the defense in hopes of finally getting over the playoff hump. Their commitment to that goal was evident in the draft, using their top five picks on defensive players — headlined by first-round CB Maxwell Hairston and third-round EDGE Landon Jackson. But just weeks into offseason workouts, the team’s carefully laid plans have hit some turbulence.
While Hairston was expected to headline the class and quickly challenge for a key role in the secondary, his early lower leg/knee injury in minicamp has cast a shadow over those hopes — especially considering his injury history at Kentucky. The Bills haven’t yet released an official update, but with Joey Bosa also already nursing a calf injury, Buffalo appears to be grappling with an early wave of bad injury luck on the defensive side.
Amid the uncertainty, Landon Jackson has emerged as a bright spot in OTAs. Enzo Flojo of Yahoo Sports praised the Arkansas product not just for his physical tools, but also his maturity and leadership — traits that are earning him attention in team meetings and on the field. Jackson’s high motor and long frame (6’7”, 280 lbs) give him tantalizing upside, and he could be thrust into a more prominent role sooner than expected if injuries linger for veterans like Bosa.
While it’s still June, and teams are naturally cautious during this phase of the offseason, Buffalo — a team with Super Bowl ambitions — will be hoping this is nothing more than a minor blip. With training camp and preseason on the horizon, the health of Hairston and Bosa will be key indicators of how smooth or rocky the Bills’ road to contention may be.