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Bills ‘Sacrifice’ Veteran to Prioritize Young Talent on Final 2025 Roster

Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Bills shook up their defensive line over the weekend by re-signing Jordan Phillips, a nine-year veteran and former fan favorite in Orchard Park. The move, reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, immediately sparked questions about DaQuan Jones, the 33-year-old starter who now looks vulnerable just days before the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline at 4 p.m. ET on August 26.

DaQuan Jones In Play To Return This Season

Jones has been a steady presence since signing with Buffalo in 2023, but injuries and age have caught up. He missed ten games in 2024 with a torn pectoral muscle and has been limited to just 20 preseason snaps this summer, earning a modest 62.5 PFF grade in run defense. Cutting him would not only create space for younger players, but also save the Bills close to $4 million in cap room with only minimal dead money. With contract extensions for stars like Josh Allen looming, financial flexibility is critical.

Cardinals' Jordan Phillips determined to prove 2019 wasn't a fluke

Phillips’ return only intensifies the competition. A familiar face from 2018–2021, he brings toughness and scheme knowledge. But the real pressure on Jones comes from the youth movement Buffalo has been building. DeWayne Carter, a third-round pick in 2024, has stood out this preseason with three tackles, a sack, and a pass-rush grade over 70. Rookie Deone Walker, drafted this year, has impressed with his 6’6” frame and run-stopping ability. TJ Sanders, another sophomore, has also carved out a role with steady snaps. Together, they represent the future Beane and McDermott are determined to develop.

National analysts are split on Jones’ fate. ESPN suggested a trade could net a late-round pick, while the Democrat and Chronicle called his release “unlikely but possible.” Buffalo Rumblings and Yahoo Sports both acknowledged he could be the odd man out, despite his experience. Fans are equally divided. On X, one user wrote, “Probably DaQuan Jones will be cut since you brought Jordan Phillips back,” while another added, “Feel like it has to mean something… either DeWayne Carter or DaQuan Jones.”

Bills place rookie DeWayne Carter on injured reserve - Yahoo Sports

Losing Jones would mean losing leadership and stability, but the reward could be long-term growth and crucial cap savings. Projections now favor a five-man group of Ed Oliver, Phillips, Carter, Walker, and Sanders heading into Week 1 against Arizona. That would mark another bold step in Buffalo’s shift toward youth, echoing the decisions to part with Tre’Davious White and Jordan Poyer in recent years.

Whether Jones stays or goes, the Bills’ defensive line in 2025 will be younger, riskier, and perhaps more dynamic. The answer will come when final cuts are announced on August 26, and Bills Mafia will be watching closely.

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Eagles Head Coach Announces A.J. Brown To Start On The Bench For Standout Rookie After Poor Performance vs. Broncos
  Philadelphia, PA — the Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach confirmed that A.J. Brown will start on the bench in Week 6 against the New York Giants, with the boundary starting spot going to rookie WR Taylor Morin—an undrafted signing out of Wake Forest who flashed through rookie camp and the preseason. The decision follows an underwhelming offensive showing against the Denver Broncos, where several snaps highlighted the unit being out of sync between Brown and Jalen Hurts. On a midfield option route, Hurts read Cover-2 and waited for an inside break into the soft spot, while Brown maintained a vertical stem and widened to the boundary to stretch the corner. The ball fell into empty space and the drive stalled. On a separate red-zone snap, a pre-snap hot-route signal wasn’t locked identically by the pair, resulting in a hurried throw that was broken up. The staff treated it as a reminder about route-depth precision, timing, and pre-snap communication—the micro-details that underpin the Eagles’ offense when January football arrives. Starting Morin is part of a plan to re-establish rhythm: the early script is expected to emphasize horizontal spacing, short choice/option concepts, and over routes off play-action to probe the Giants’ responses. Morin—who has shown strong hands in tight windows and clean timing in the preseason—should give the call sheet a steadier platform, while Brown will be “activated” in high-leverage downs such as 3rd-and-medium, two-minute, and red zone to maximize his body control, early separation, and the coverage gravity that can force New York to roll coverage. Facing the tough call, Brown kept his response brief but competitive:“I can’t accept letting a kid take my spot, but I respect his decision. Let’s see what we’re saying after the game. I’ll practice and wait for my chance. When the ball is in the air, everyone will know who I am.” Operationally, the staff is expected to streamline the call sheet between Hurts and Brown: standardize option-route depths, clearly flag hot signals, and increase game-speed reps in 7-on-7 and team periods so both are “seeing it the same and triggering the same.” Handing the start to Morin also resets the locker-room standard: every role is earned by tape and daily detail—even for a star of Brown’s caliber. If Brown converts the message into cleaner stems and precise landmarks—catching the ball at the spot and on time—the Eagles anticipate early returns: fewer dead drives, better red-zone execution when back-shoulder throws and choice routes are run “in the same language,” and an offense that regains tempo before taking on Big Blue. With Taylor Morin in the opening script, Philadelphia hopes the fresh piece is enough to jump-start the attack from the first series.