Sean McDermott
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Bills head coach Sean McDermott at Highmark Stadium on November 19, 2023.
The Buffalo Bills made a late addition to their secondary, signing an undrafted rookie free agent who can help fill out a position hit hard by injuries.
The team announced just hours before their final preseason game on Aug. 23 that they signed cornerback Garnett Hollis Jr., who has already spent time with two other teams this offseason. While he will miss the final preseason contest, Hollis could compete for a spot on the depth chart after injuries to two of the team’s top cornerbacks.
Garnett Hollis Jr. Earned Praise for Size and Skills
Hollis earned some praise coming out of West Virginia but went undrafted before signing with the Tennessee Titans. He was ultimately released and spent some time with the Green Bay Packers before coming to the Bills on Saturday.
As Bleacher Report noted in its pre-draft scouting report, Hollis had an impressive combination of size and skill despite some difficulties when lined up against speedy receivers.
“Garnett Hollis Jr. is a long and physical cornerback from West Virginia, boasting a 6’0″, 203-pound frame that provides the ideal size to contend with bigger receivers and tight ends at the NFL level,” the report noted. “A former Northwestern transfer, Hollis uses his length and physicality effectively but is limited by movement inefficiencies that impact his ability to consistently cover faster and more agile receivers.”
The Bills had room on their 90-man roster after waiving defensive back Wande Owens with an injury designation.
Bills Dealing With Injuries in the Secondary
Hollis will have just a few days to make an impression before the team has to make final cuts. He could be a candidate for the practice squad, especially with the status of cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and rookie Maxwell Hairston.
Hairston went down with a knee injury in July and has been out ever since. The team classified his status as week-to-week, leaving it unclear whether he will be ready to return in time for the start of the season.
White’s status is surrounded by even more mystery, with the team not yet giving a diagnosis after he went down at practice earlier in the week.
Fellow cornerback Dane Jackson, who like White returned to the Bills this offseason after spending the 2024 season elsewhere, said after practice this week that the team needs to find a way to move beyond the injuries.
“Injuries are a part of football, you know what I mean?” Jackson said, via the Democrat & Chronicle. “We all go out there hoping that doesn’t happen, but they’re definitely a part of football, so we’re just trying to figure it out.”
Jackson could not offer any further details on White’s injury, but said he hopes the fellow veteran will be back on the field soon.
“I don’t know anything, yeah. I was on the other sideline, and I haven’t even seen him yet, so I don’t know anything,” Jackson said. “I’m just hoping he’s okay, like that’s my number one thing. I don’t want to ever see anyone go down or get injured, including myself, so I’m just hoping he’s okay. I want him to have the best season that he’s ever had, so I’m just praying for him for sure.”