Bills' Tre'Davious White Out for Season After Knee Injury Diagnosed as Torn ACL
Nov 26, 2021
An injured Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) is helped by head coach Sean McDermott, right, and medical staff in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
The Buffalo Bills announced Friday star
cornerback Tre'Davious White will miss the remainder of the 2021 NFL
season because of a torn ACL.
White, a two-time Pro Bowl selection,
suffered the knee injury during Thursday's 31-6 win over the New
Orleans Saints.
Losing one of the league's best corners
is a major blow to a Buffalo team with Super Bowl aspirations fueled
by a major defensive resurgence this season.
The Bills ranked second in total
defense in 2018 and third in 2019. While quarterback Josh Allen and
the team's offense enjoyed a breakout 2020 campaign, the defense
didn't live up to the same high standard, dropping to 14th in
total defense.
White and Co. returned to form in the
first half of this season. They lead the league in total defense in
large part thanks to their success defending the pass. They rank
first in opponent passer rating (62.8) and second in passing yards
allowed per game (178.5).
The 2017 first-round pick recorded 41
total tackles, six passes defended, one interception and one forced
fumble in 11 games while often being matched up with the
opponent's top wide receiver this season.
"I hope nothing's too serious, and
I know all the guys in the locker room are praying for him and
hurting with him," Allen told reporters after the Thanksgiving
Day game. "You can't say a single bad thing about that man. He
comes in and busts his ass every day."
Safety Micah Hyde added: "Obviously
Tre'Davious is a huge playmaker for us and just his presence on the
football field is unmatched, and hopefully he's healthy."
Simply put, Buffalo doesn't have
another corner capable of playing White's critical role.
Levi Wallace has endured an
up-and-down four-year career as the Bills' No. 2 corner, and Taron
Johnson is at his best while playing in the slot, where he'll likely
stay following White's injury.
Dane Jackson, a 2020 seventh-round
selection, stepped into the lineup Thursday and will likely become a
full-time starter moving forward. He's shown glimpses of developing
into a starting-level cornerback, but trying to contain No. 1
receivers would be a big ask.
A lot of pressure will fall onto the
shoulders of the safety tandem of Hyde and Jordan Poyer to help erase
some of the mistakes sure to come from either Wallace or Jackson in
their new, more difficult roles.
All told, along with Allen and linebacker Matt
Milano, White was one of the select few players the Bills couldn't
afford to lose without putting their Super Bowl hopes in serious
danger.
Making matters worse, next up for the
Bills (7-4) is a crucial AFC East matchup against the New England
Patriots (7-4) in Week 13.
Josh Allen Throws 4 TD Passes as Bills Blow Out Saints in Thanksgiving Night Clash
Nov 26, 2021
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox, left, celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (1) and quarterback Josh Allen (17) in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle)
Josh Allen threw four touchdown passes in concert with his team's dominant defensive effort as the Buffalo Bills rolled to a 31-6 road win over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday at Caesars Superdome.
Buffalo led 24-0 after three quarters. Tight end Dawson Knox caught a seven-yard TD pass in the first quarter before adding a 24-yarder late in the third. In between, a 34-yard Tyler Bass field goal and a third-quarter touchdown pass from Josh Allen to Stefon Diggs for five yards completed the scoring.
Allen's fourth and final touchdown pass went to running back Matt Breida, who caught a 23-yarder in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
The short-handed Saints played without both top running backs, as Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram II sat with knee injuries. New Orleans was also without offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk (knee) and defensive end Marcus Davenport (shoulder).
The remaining Saints struggled on offense, amassing just 64 yards on their first six drives (not counting a first half-ending kneeldown).
They did engineer a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by a Nick Vannett 11-yard touchdown catch to cut the lead to 24-6, but that served as the Saints' offensive apex.
The Bills ended up out-gaining the Saints 361-190 after possessing the ball for nearly 35 minutes.
The Bills unfortunately did not come out of this game unscathed as No. 1 cornerback Tre'Davious White suffered a left knee injury in the second quarter.
White's knee appeared to slightly buckle as he blanketed Saints wide receiver Marquez Callaway in coverage. He was initially ruled doubtful before Buffalo declared him out.
The 7-4 Bills moved into a tie for first place in the AFC East with the New England Patriots. The 5-6 Saints fell a half-game out of the NFC playoff picture behind the 5-5 San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings with the loss.
Saints RB Tony Jones Jr.: 16 carries, 27 rushing yards
Saints TE Nick Vannett: 1 catch, 11 receiving yards, 1 TD
Best Version of Bills Shows up in Superdome
At its best, Buffalo has as strong a case as any city that it's home to the best NFL franchise.
The Bills have seven wins, six of which have come by 18 or more points. They include a 38-20 road win over the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs and a pair of shutout victories over the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans by a combined 75-0 score.
The Bills also have four losses, including a 9-6 result to the 2-8 Jacksonville Jaguars and a 41-15 home defeat to the Indianapolis Colts that saw Jonathan Taylor score five touchdowns.
On Thursday, the best Bills showed up, with numerous players stealing the spotlight.
Having a healthy Knox in the mix helps. All he's done in the past two games is catch nine passes for 112 yards and two scores. He has seven touchdowns in eight games after missing three contests because of a broken right hand.
Knox went to work on his first score, making a few Saints miss tackles before crossing the goal line:
Diggs is also heating up with touchdowns in five of his last six games. His phenomenal footwork and route-running were on display during his touchdown:
The former Maryland star has at least 60 receiving yards or a touchdown in each game this year.
Of course, Allen delivered all those passes, and he looked far more like the 2020 NFL MVP candidate version of himself rather than the shaky, inconsistent gunslinger that came to play in 2018 and 2019. He did throw two interceptions, but neither ended up mattering in the 25-point win.
The Bills have also gotten a backfield boost thanks to Breida, who gives Buffalo more burst and elusiveness in the open field. That was clearly evident after he took Allen's screen pass to the house for six:
Breida and Devin Singletary made up the backfield with a healthy Zack Moss scratched. The move to Breida has worked, with the five-year veteran amassing 172 scrimmage yards on 23 touches in his last three games.
Meanwhile, the Bills' defense had the Saints' number all night, capped by this Jordan Poyer interception:
After allowing the Colts to run free the week before, the Bills defense needed to respond with a big performance, and they got it in a tough environment.
The Bills will certainly be tested the rest of the way, with two games against the AFC East co-leading Pats and a road date with Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the regular-season ledger.
However, Buffalo at its best can beat any team, anywhere. The question is whether that 2021 Bills version shows up enough consistently down the stretch.
New Orleans' Season Is Sinking
The Saints' last four games bring to mind the closing lyrics of The Tragically Hip's ode to the city, "New Orleans Is Sinking."
"My memory is muddy, what's this river that I'm in? New Orleans is sinking, man, and I don't want to swim."
New Orleans started the year 5-2, with wins over three legitimate Super Bowl contenders in the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The combined score in those three wins: Saints 102, Opponents 43.
That start is nothing but a muddy memory at this point.
The shorthanded Saints have since lost four straight without starting quarterback Jameis Winston (torn ACL, MCL damage). A laundry list of injuries have existed all month, which includes a 27-25 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, a 23-21 result to the Tennessee Titans and a 40-29 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Those games at least had varying levels of competitiveness, but any drama and intrigue in this one was gone well before the fourth quarter.
The Saints couldn't move the ball through the air or on the ground, and save for two Allen interceptions, the defense had no answer for anything Buffalo did Thursday.
Granted, the Saints are playing with a backup quarterback right now. In addition, Siemian was thrust into a very difficult spot as he plays behind a banged-up offensive line. Missing the team's top star in Kamara certainly hurts, and star wideout Michael Thomas isn't playing this year as he recovers from ankle surgery.
But it's more clear than ever that New Orleans' season is sinking with the team officially sliding out of the playoff picture Thursday.
The Saints have historically been a tough, resilient bunch under head coach Sean Payton over the past decade-and-a-half. Not every season has gone their way, but New Orleans never went worse than 7-9 since 2006.
Granted, all those teams had Drew Brees, and this one does not. But the Saints showed what their peak looks like earlier this year, and there's time to answer the question as to whether New Orleans is capable of hitting anywhere close to that mark again.
However, with the team losing so many key members that started the season with them, they may have to find another way to swim and stay alive in the playoff race.
What's Next?
The Bills will host the Patriots in a key AFC East matchup on Monday, Dec. 6 at 8:15 p.m. ET from Highmark Stadium.
The Saints will welcome the Dallas Cowboys into New Orleans on Thursday at 8:20 p.m.
Tre'Davious White Won't Return for Bills vs. Saints Because of Knee Injury
Nov 26, 2021
Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) defends a pass against New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith (10) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White has been ruled out for the remainder of his team's road game against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday with a left knee injury.
Buffalo initially ruled White doubtful to return before later confirming that the 26-year-old would not be coming back onto the field.
As noted by Nick Wojton of Bills Wire, White's left knee appeared to buckle slightly as the shutdown corner defended Saints wide receiver Marquez Callaway in the second quarter.
Per Adam Benigni of WGRZ Buffalo, White walked off the field on his own power.
A clearly emotional White was understandably unhappy after leaving the game, as Jay Skurski of Buffalo News noted:
Tre White just SLAMMED his helmet on the sideline after walking off the field. He's currently in the medical tent being looked at by trainers. #Bills
As noted by ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg, Dane Jackson stepped in for White. Levi Wallace remained as the other outside corner, with Taron Johnson acting as the nickelback.
White is a two-time Pro Bowler who also earned an All-Pro nod during the first four years of his career. He's one of the NFL's best defensive backs and had played particularly well of late, per Pro Football Focus:
Tre’Davious White’s playmaking has been on the rise over the last three weeks👀
Hopefully the former LSU star is able to return quickly as the Bills look for a return trip to the playoffs. His next opportunity to play would be Monday, Dec. 6 at home against the New England Patriots.
If he's forced to miss time, then Jackson should be the next player up.
The former Pitt Panther, who is in his second NFL season after Buffalo selected him with a seventh-round draft pick, entered Thursday with 15 career games played. He has amassed 26 tackles, five defended passes, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Saints' Alvin Kamara Ruled Out for Thanksgiving Game vs. Bills with Knee Injury
Nov 24, 2021
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) sits the bench during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle)
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara was ruled out of Thursday's Thanksgiving Day game against the Buffalo Bills because of a knee injury.
It'll mark the dual-threat back's third straight absence. He last played in a Nov. 7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
As the 5-5 Saints have navigated a series of injuries and inconsistent quarterback play, Kamara has been essential in keeping the offense afloat.
The four-time Pro Bowler leads the team in touches (178), rushing yards (530), yards from scrimmage (840) and total touchdowns (seven).
Kamara's absence highlights the ongoing issues the Saints have had on offense. Quarterback Jameis Winston is out for the season with a torn ACL. Michael Thomas will also miss the entire year because of ongoing issues after his offseason ankle surgery.
Head coach Sean Payton will turn to Mark Ingram II as his lead rusher against the Bills if he's active. He's questionable with a knee injury of his own.
The Saints brought Ingram back in an Oct. 29 trade with the Houston Texans. He spent the first eight years of his career with the organization. He's the Saints' all-time leader in rushing touchdowns (51) and rushing yards (6,212).
Second-year back Tony Jones (22 carries, 79 yards) would lead the backfield if Ingram is also ruled out.
Colts' Jim Irsay Gave Buffalo Bills Fans Signed $100 Bills During Colts' Blowout Win
Nov 23, 2021
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay talks during the Hall of Fame ring ceremony for Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
A group of Buffalo Bills fans in attendance for Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts left disappointed but not empty-handed.
Colts owner Jim Irsay gave the group autographed $100 bills for being good sports as Indianapolis pulled off the 41-15 road upset over the Bills.
Saying thanks to the classy Bills fans (who sat in front of us and tolerated our cheering yesterday) with some personally autographed “Benjamins.” 🙏 pic.twitter.com/FbvXdIzAM0
Irsay is no stranger to acts of generosity. He regularly gives away tickets to Colts home games on his Twitter account.
Many fans could take a lesson from Irsay and the group from Buffalo on acts of civility between rivals.
Bills' Josh Allen Sacked by Jaguars' Josh Allen; 1st Player to Sack QB with Same Name
Nov 7, 2021
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) is sacked by the Jacksonville Jaguars defense during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Josh Allen sacked Josh Allen, and history was made. Wait...what?
Let's try that again. Jacksonville Jaguars pass-rusher Josh Allen sacked Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen on Sunday, making it the first time in NFL history a player sacked a quarterback with the same name.
Josh Allen sacked Josh Allen 😂
First time in NFL history a QB was sacked by a player with the same name
We live in truly wild times. Feel free to insert your "pointing Spider-Man" memes here.
Von Miller Rumors: Cowboys, Bills Had Interest in Ex-Broncos Star Before Rams Trade
Nov 2, 2021
Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Before the Los Angeles Rams acquired Von Miller, at least two other playoff contenders made an inquiry to the Denver Broncos.
The Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills had interest in the eight-time Pro Bowler, per Peter Schrager of Fox Sports (h/t Sosa Kremenjas of Pro Football Focus),
The Rams announced on Monday they sent a second- and third-round draft pick in 2022 to the Broncos in exchange for Miller.
The L.A. Rams, Dallas and Buffalo have clearly established themselves as Super Bowl contenders this season.
Based on team sack totals, the Cowboys (6-1) seemed to have the greatest need for Miller's particular skill set. They are tied for 28th in the NFL with 12 sacks, led by Randy Gregory with five.
Things look better for the Cowboys defensive line using ESPN's pass-rushing win-rate metric. They are tied for ninth in that category at 44 percent.
The Rams lead the NFL in sacks (25) and are third in pass-rushing win rate at 52 percent. The Bills (5-2) rank 17th in pass-rushing win rate (41 percent) and are tied for 20th in sacks (16).
Per Pro Football Focus, Miller ranks seventh among edge defenders in overall grade (85.6) and 11th in total pressures (28).
The 32-year-old has slowed down after a strong start to the season. He recorded seven quarterback hits and 4.5 sacks in the Broncos' first four games. The 2011 No. 2 overall draft pick out of Texas A&M only has two quarterback hits and no sacks in the past three games.
Moving to the Rams and playing with Aaron Donald should open up more opportunities for Miller to get after opposing quarterbacks.
The Rams (7-1) are tied with the Arizona Cardinals atop the NFC West. Their move to acquire Miller is a clear indication that they are taking advantage of their window to win a Super Bowl this season.
Bills' Cole Beasley on Deactivating Twitter Account: 'Definitely a Weight Lifted'
Nov 1, 2021
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 03: Cole Beasley #11 of the Buffalo Bills warms up prior to a game against the Houston Texans at Highmark Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley has found life a little more carefree after going off the social media grid.
Beasley appeared to deactivate his Twitter account in mid-October. Following Buffalo's 26-11 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, he said he was pleased with that decision.
"But it's good for me to get back to where I wanted to be, and it's not on there," he told reporters. "The real world is out here and not there. Most people say things on there that you don't want to hear. And it's definitely a weight lifted, and I feel like I did the right thing."
The 32-year-old drew attention on Twitter in the offseason for his views on the COVID-19 vaccine. At one point in June, he shared a statement saying he'd rather retire than get it.
Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes was among those who voiced their opposition to Beasley's stances on the matter:
Cole Beasley: Anti-vaccine Jerry Hughes: Pro-vaccine.
Beasley said in July he was "pro-choice" and wanted "complete transparency regarding information that is vital in the decision-making process" for his peers.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who are vaccinated are eight times less likely to contract the disease and 25 times less likely to be hospitalized or die from it.
With the regular season approaching, the Associated Press' John Wawrow wrote the Bills were "considered to be at the lower end of the NFL scale in having about 80 percent of their players vaccinated."
Head coach Sean McDermott called his squad's vaccination situation "tough," "frustrating" and "challenging" because of how a franchise can be affected by one or more positive tests.
Beasley was fined in August for violating the league's COVID-19 protocol. The veteran pass-catcher has made seven appearances for Buffalo, catching 43 passes for 413 yards and one touchdown.
Bills Announce 27,000 Donations, over $1M Raised to Honor Josh Allen's Grandmother
Oct 26, 2021
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen celebrates as he runs off the field following an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
The Bills tweeted a video showing the dedication of a wing at the Oishei Children's Hospital to Patricia Allen:
Over 27,000 donations and more than $1 million dollars raised to honor @JoshAllenQB's grandmother and her family.
It was noted over 27,000 people made donations in Patricia Allen's name, eclipsing the $1 million mark.
Allen's grandmother died last November at the age of 80, resulting in Bills fans showing their support for the quarterback by making donations in her honor.
During the dedication, Allen thanked everyone who works at Oishei Children's Hospital and added: "I'm so grateful to have this honor and to have my grandmother memorialized like this. I'm so indebted to this great community and this city of Buffalo."
The Bills selected Allen with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, and pundits instantly wondered whether the former Wyoming standout would be able to translate to the NFL.
It hasn't taken long for Allen to establish himself as one of the league's top signal-callers and a beloved figure in Buffalo.
Allen was named to the Pro Bowl, finished second in the NFL MVP voting and took the Bills to the AFC Championship Game last season.
Buffalo is off to a 4-2 start this season and is widely considered the favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, which is somewhere the Bills haven't been since the 1993 season.
The Buffalo Bills came inches short of either setting up a game-tying field goal, or scoring a game-winning touchdown on Monday night. With 22 seconds left, the Bills dialed up a quarterback sneak for Josh Allen to convert on a 4th-and-1...
