Bills Bring Back Super Bowl Champion Star in Trade Amid Maxwell Hairston’s Injury

Buffalo, NY – September 25, 2025 – With the Buffalo Bills’ secondary reeling from injuries, rumors of a potential reunion with former star Rasul Douglas have sent Bills Mafia into a frenzy.

Rookie Maxwell Hairston, the No. 30 overall pick in the 2025 Draft, is expected to miss most – if not all – of the season after suffering a lingering LCL injury in training camp. Combined with Tre’Davious White’s absence, the Bills are dangerously thin at outside cornerback. One defensive source admitted: “Hairston might as well redshirt this whole year. We need an answer right now.”

Billed as the next cornerstone opposite Christian Benford, Hairston’s rookie campaign derailed before it began. What was initially labeled as a minor three-week setback has stretched into a 10-week recovery timeline.

Head coach Sean McDermott emphasized caution: “He’s making progress every day, but we can’t put a hard deadline on it. Safety comes first.”

Placed on Injured Reserve, Hairston will miss at least the first four games. With upcoming matchups against the Saints, Bengals, and Jets, the Bills’ once-dominant secondary suddenly looks vulnerable.

Douglas, 30, became a Buffalo fan favorite after arriving at the 2023 trade deadline, posting 4 INTs, 13 pass breakups, and a season-defining onside kick recovery in the 2025 Divisional Round.

But contract drama in the summer of 2025 pushed him out. After failing to land the ~$10M/year deal he sought, Douglas signed a one-year, $3M pact with the Miami Dolphins.

In Miami, his start has been rocky. Despite snagging an INT in Week 2, he allowed two TDs against his former team in Week 3 and earned just a 68.2 coverage grade from PFF. Head coach Mike McDaniel openly questioned his consistency.

On social media, Bills fans are rallying under the hashtag #BringBackRasul, flooding timelines with calls for his return.

And Douglas himself recently hinted at where his heart still lies, telling a confidant:
“In Buffalo, I felt like I was part of a family. Here, it just doesn’t feel the same. If I ever get the chance to go back, I’d take it in a heartbeat.”

GM Brandon Beane has a history of pulling off in-season trades (Douglas in 2023, Amari Cooper in 2024). If Hairston fails to return by Week 5, the Bills could make a move, dangling a mid-round pick or player swap to pry Douglas back from Miami — especially if the Dolphins continue to stumble and target Asante Samuel Jr. as a replacement.

McDermott hinted at flexibility: “We’re always monitoring the market. Secondary depth is critical, and there are familiar names we’d consider.”

With a brutal stretch of games ahead, a battered cornerback room, and Bills Mafia clamoring, Rasul Douglas’ return could be both a practical solution and an emotional spark.

Will the “wayward son” truly come home at the trade deadline in late October? The answer might shape Buffalo’s season.