Bills Inactive Report: Defense takes a hit and unfortunate trend continues moments before Week 2 vs. the Jets

The Buffalo Bills inactive report had more than a few surprises. Ahead of their Week 2 matchup against the Jets, the team is going to be a little shorthanded.

Adam Zientek NFL News Writer
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Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott heads towards the back field at Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford on July 31, 2025.
Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Buffalo Bills are set to face the New York Jets in Week 2 of the NFL season. Ahead of the game, the team released its inactive report, which included a handful of surprises.

On the positive side, Buffalo is getting back cornerback Tre’Davious White for the contest. He missed Week 1, and his status for Week 2 was uncertain. Christian Benford and White will be the starting cornerbacks for the game. While rookie Dorian Strong stepped up in a big way in the season-opener, having White back on the field is a major boost for the defense.

Outside of the expected absence of Ed Oliver, Taron Johnson wasn’t able to get healthy enough to compete, and the Bills will be without one of their best playmakers on the defensive side of the football. Receiver Curtis Samuel is once again a healthy scratch, continuing an unfortunate trend early in the 2025 regular season.

Special teams often decide which depth players are active, and the front office may have favored a player like Tyrell Shavers being active, due to his increased responsibilities on that unit.

In Week 1, Shavers was one of six Bills players to play on all the core-four special teams snaps in the contest. For Samuel, his future in Buffalo is unclear. It’s a frustrating update on a player who has struggled with injuries throughout his tenure in Buffalo

The Bills’ inactive report vs. the Jets

Rounding out the inactives for the upcoming game are Jordan Hancock, Shaq Thompson, Chase Lundt, and Landon Jackson, with no real surprises beyond Johnson’s absence.

White’s return, of course, is the headline.

Ahead of the matchup, with Oliver having a reported multi-week injury, the team called up Zion Logue from the practice squad. It’s unclear what his snap count will be, but the team is trying to bolster the interior of their defensive line in Oliver’s absence. Another rookie, T.J. Sanders, is in line for some increased responsibilities with Oliver being sidelined.

Along with Logue, Keonta Jenkins was also elevated as part of Buffalo’s roster moves.

The Jets are going to try to mimic the success that the Baltimore Ravens had against Buffalo in Week 1. Expect a heavy dose of Breece Hall with some designed runs for quarterback Justin Fields.

All that’s left to do is wait as the two teams are about to kick off.