The Buffalo Bills’ cornerback room will be shorthanded for Sunday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens. While first-round pick Maxwell Hairston is on injured reserve with an LCL sprain, veteran Pro Bowler Tre’Davious White has been dealing with a groin injury over the past few weeks. White did not participate in this week’s practice, resulting in the Bills listing him as doubtful.
Also Read: Buffalo Bills: Placed 1st-Round Pick on Injured Reserve
With two of their top four corners not expected to play, the defense may have to count on a late-round pick.
Buffalo Bills’ late-round sleeper could be in line for key Week 1 role
Buffalo Bills, Dorian Strong
Jul 23, 2025; Rochester, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills cornerback Dorian Strong (43) runs between drills during training camp at St. John Fisher University. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
With injuries to Maxwell Hairston and Tre’Davious White, DorianStrong could make his rookie debut as the starter alongside Christian Benford. The sixth-round pick has recently impressed the coaching staff during training camp, even splitting first-team reps with the starting defense. However, the Bills may opt for Ja’Marcus Ingram, the more experienced player who has one career start in 21 career regular-season games.
He had an exceptional college career in the ACC
Virginia Tech Hokies, Dorian Strong
Oct 5, 2024; Stanford, California, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies cornerback Dorian Strong (44) warms up before a game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
Dorian Strong committed to the Virginia Tech Hokies as a three-star recruit for the 2020 season. He had a strong tenure with Virginia Tech, registering seven interceptions and 28 pass deflections across 53 games and 44 starts and earning a Third-Team All-ACC selection in 2023. Strong had a great senior campaign, recording 32 tackles, two interceptions, and six pass deflections in 12 games.
Due to being relatively undersized for an outside cornerback at 185 pounds, lacking elite speed with a 4.50 40-yard dash, and with many scouts questioning whether his man-to-man skills at Virginia Tech would translate to the zone-heavy schemes used in the NFL, Dorian Strong fell to the Buffalo Bills with the 177th pick in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
His recent emergence has impressed the defensive coordinator
NFL Combine, Dorian Strong
Feb 28, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Virginia Tech defensive back Dorian Strong (DB31) participates in drills during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
“Dorian, the improvement over the last two weeks has been unbelievable,” Bobby Babich said, via Alex Brasky ofSports Illustrated.
“It’s a confidence thing,” Babich added. “When you first get in the league, you’re trying to fit in and see how you fit in. You’re trying to learn a new scheme, you’re trying to learn all of these things.
“A lot of aspects of his game (have improved). The talent was there. It was a little bit, if you wanna say, unstructured. But the attention to detail. Some of the fundamentals that we use, he has come a long way.”
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