The Bills brought back a popular pair of Jordans this week, re-signing two longtime former Bills.
Safety Jordan Poyer and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips put pen to paper, joining the team’s practice squad.
“As you guys know, culture, character, leadership, all those things, you can’t find enough guys like that,” GM Brandon Beane said of the duo. “Now with the rules since COVID, being able to have vets on there, I think, is one of the best things our league has done.”
Beane noted the two defensive vets’ team-first mentality as a good model for Buffalo’s younger players.
“That’s what I love about both Jordans, they’re selfless,” Beane shared. “Of course, they’re competitive. If their number’s called, they’re going to go out there and do their best. But they also understand — it’s do whatever it takes. Help a guy on practice squad, help a guy on active, help a guy prepare for an upcoming opponent.”
Beane also shared that Poyer spoke with him, head coach Sean McDermott, and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich as far back as May about his future. They were in contact again at the start of training camp at St. John Fisher University in Rochester.
“We talked all along that this may be a very good option. He’s obviously got to make sure he’s in shape to play and be ready if it happens,” the GM noted. “He’s excited about pouring into the other guys, and not necessarily just the DBs. Just what this defense is about.”
Poyer was a fixture in the Buffalo secondary from 2017 to 2023, being a first-team All-Pro in 2021 and a Pro Bowler in 2022. During a seven-season tenure, he was a starter in forming a top duo with Micah Hyde.
Poyer is happy to be back playing for McDermott as well, in whom he’s seen growth as a coach.
“He’s adapted, he’s evolved, he’s grown, he’s learned. He’s made mistakes and learned from them and continued to grow,” the safety said. “There’s a reason people want to come back here, and Sean is a big part of that… He’s a player’s coach.”
The return presents the opportunity for the veteran to rinse off a forgettable stint in Miami last year in an 8-9 campaign with the Dolphins and to write the rest of his remaining story in the NFL.
“Last year, it was a super bad taste in my mouth, just the way the season was, the way it could have been my last year in the league. I didn’t want to necessarily go out that way,” he added. “This is home. This is where I want to be.”
Whether Poyer’s second run in Buffalo will be solely on the practice squad or elevated back to gameplay, he’s embracing and preparing for either scenario and for offering mentorship to the team’s other defensive backs.
“I’m coming in with my head down, just going to work, help the guys, be an extra set of eyes, extra set of ears, and just be of service,” Poyer said. “But don’t get me wrong, I am also here to play football at a high level, I still feel like I got a lot left to prove to myself, to this game, to the people around me.”
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: What Bills GM Brandon Beane said on Jordan Poyer, Jordan Phillips