Dane Jackson
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Cornerback Dane Jackson #30 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates after recovering a fumble during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on November 15, 2020, in Glendale, Arizona.
The Buffalo Bills have taken some big hits in their secondary, leading the team to call on a familiar face to help against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Bills have placed two safeties on injured reserve in the last few weeks and dealt with lingering injuries among the cornerback group. The team tapped veteran Dane Jackson to help against the Chiefs, calling him up from the practice squad for the first time this season.
Jackson’s elevation could be a troubling sign for another Bills cornerback who was a late addition to the injury report this week.
Dane Jackson’s Comeback Now Complete
Jackson came into the NFL as a seventh-round pick by the Bills in 2020, carving out a role as a reliable cornerback who made 28 starts in 52 total appearances in Buffalo. Jackson left prior to the 2024 season, signing with the Carolina Panthers and starting three games.
The Bills brought Jackson back this offseason, signing him to the practice squad after he missed the team’s final cuts in August.
This will be Jackson’s first elevation from the practice squad this season, giving the team some insurance in case nickel cornerback Taron Johnson is unable to play. Johnson was a very late addition to the injury report, being listed as questionable on Friday despite practicing in full all week — suggesting that he suffered the injury in the team’s final practice of the week.
SI.com’s Ralph Ventre suggested that Jackson’s elevation could be a troubling sign for Johnson’s availability against the Chiefs.
“Jackson’s elevation was likely inspired by starting nickel cornerback Taron Johnson’s questionable status,” Ventre wrote. “In a troubling development, Johnson became a new addition to the injury report with a groin issue on Friday.”
The Bills have already lost starting safety Taylor Rapp, who was placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss the rest of the season. The team also put backup safety Damar Hamlin on injured reserve, prompting them to sign Jordan Poyer to the active squad from the practice squad.
Bills Add Help on the Defensive Line
The Bills also announced that defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis was elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s game, adding depth to another position hit hard by injuries. The team placed defensive tackle Ed Oliver on injured reserve and ruled fellow lineman DaQuan Jones out for the game with a calf injury.
“Mathis gives Buffalo four available interior linemen for Sunday’s game against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ high-powered attack, which ranks fifth in the NFL (378.3),” Ventre noted. “He joins a rotation that includes Larry Ogunjobi, Jordan Phillips and fourth-round rookie Deone Walker.”
Slowing the Chiefs could be a challenge for the Bills given their injuries and momentum that Kansas City has generated since the return of Rashee Rice. Despite starting the season with two straight losses, the Chiefs have steadied the ship and won five out of their last six games.
Both the Bills and Chiefs are in an unfamiliar spot — looking up at the top of the division. The Bills fell in second behind the New England Patriots, while the Chiefs are behind the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers.