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Buffalo Bills Rookie Cut Before Season Retires to Join Military Service

90 Buffalo Bills players in 90 days: LB Keonta Jenkins | Buffalo Rumblings

Buffalo, New York – The NFL is often hailed as the ultimate arena for athletic ambition, but for one resilient Buffalo rookie, the pursuit of professional stardom has pivoted from the turf to a profound sense of duty and service.

After inking a deal as an undrafted free agent in May, the tenacious cornerback battled fiercely through training camp and preseason skirmishes, vying for a precious spot on a Bills roster hungry for defensive back depth and swagger in the secondary.

That player is Keonta Jenkins, a dynamic standout from West Virginia University who forged his legacy with 8 career interceptions in college, earning acclaim as a shutdown press-man corner with elite ball skills and a knack for game-changing plays on special teams.

Waived in late August, Jenkins left Bills Nation reeling by revealing his abrupt retirement from pro football and his bold choice to join the U.S. military, swapping a Bills helmet for the uniform of a soldier.

“I chased the NFL dream in Buffalo, but getting cut right before Week 1 cracked open a door I couldn’t ignore,” Jenkins shared in a heartfelt statement. “This isn’t a defeat—it’s my true purpose. I’ll serve my country with the same fire and fight I brought to the Bills every snap.”

At 6’0” and 190 pounds, Jenkins was pegged as a versatile slot corner with the speed and instincts to match up against elite receivers, though his boundary size drew some scouts’ skepticism. His preseason PFF grade of 68 underscored his poise under pressure, but the cutthroat depth chart competition in Buffalo’s star-studded secondary proved too steep a climb.

For the Bills, the departure marks the end of an intriguing developmental arc under defensive coordinator Bobby Babich. For Jenkins, it launches an epic new chapter that embodies his “underdog” ethos—a competitor who’s always defied the odds to shine.

Fans across Western New York and the college football world flooded social media with tributes, dubbing it “the real MVP move” and “a reminder that courage outshines any Super Bowl ring.” Jenkins steps away from the NFL spotlight, but his upcoming mission on the front lines could etch an even bolder legacy.

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.