Less than a week after promoting Joe Brady to head coach, the Bills hired former Broncos defensive passing game coordinator Jim Leonhard as their new DC. Leonhard played safety for 10 NFL seasons, including stints in Buffalo from 2005 to 2007 and again in 2013. He transitioned to coaching with stops at Wisconsin and Illinois before joining Denver’s staff in 2024 as defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator. Leonhard also interviewed with the Ravens and Chargers before Brady hired him to replace Bobby Babich, who was fired after Buffalo’s 33-30 Divisional Round loss to Denver.

The Bills have fired HC Sean McDermott, according to multiple reports. McDermott spent nine seasons at the helm in Buffalo, 98-50 in the regular season with just one non-winning campaign: 6-10 back in 2018, his second year. Each of his other eight Bills teams reached the playoffs. Five straight won the AFC East before this year's club finished second behind the Patriots. McDermott's Bills went 8-8 in the playoffs, winning at least one game each of the past six seasons.

The Bills have ruled LB Terrel Bernard out for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars with a calf injury. LB Shaq Thompson, who has generally replaced Bernard, is questionable with a neck issue that limited him all week. Buffalo also ruled out rookie CB Maxwell Hairston

Bills CB Christian Benford and LB Terrel Bernard are inactive for today's game against the Patriots. That leaves Buffalo down its lead corner. Bernard's absence is probably good news for Buffalo's run defense, which has allowed 5.5 yards per carry with him on the field vs. 3.4 with Shaq Thompson in his place.

Bills HC Sean McDermott announced Friday that Edge Joey Bosa and LB Terrel Bernard will miss Sunday's game against the Bengals. It's no surprise for Bernard, who was said to be an IR candidate when he initially suffered his elbow injury. (He has missed one game since.) It's also not a shock for Bosa, who left last Sunday's win over the Steelers early with a hamstring injury.

Bills DT Ed Oliver suffered a torn left biceps in Sunday's win over the Panthers. Testing Monday confirmed the injury, according to multiple sources. Oliver will have surgery and miss the rest of the season. The 27-year-old -- he turns 28 in December -- has two more years remaining on his contract.

The Bills have ruled S Taylor Rapp out for Sunday's game at Carolina. His injury situation this week seemed a bit surprising after Rapp played 96% of the snaps in the Week 6 loss to Atlanta and then got a bye week. But it's apparently not a new issue.

Bills DT Ed Oliver (ankle) is inactive for tonight's game against the Patriots. LB Matt Milano is active, though. Milano missed the past two games with a pectoral injury but should get back to his normal role. Oliver was questionable after putting in limited practices all week. That should make him a solid bet to return in Week 6, especially with a bye week to rest the ankle after that.

The Bills won't have LB Matt Milano (pectoral) or DT Ed Oliver (ankle) for Thursday night's game against the Dolphins. Both have been ruled out. CB Taron Johnson (quad) is questionable after limited practices all week. Johnson sounds like he'll be ready to play.

A number of safeties have snagged big contracts at the start of NFL free agency, but the Bills haven't chased those types. Instead, they're bringing 2024 starter Damar Hamlin back on a one-year deal and importing former Commanders S Darrick Forrest on a one-year deal. There's obviously plenty of time for more moves -- including the NFL Draft -- but Buffalo might simply be setting up competition for the spot next to Taylor Rapp.

The Bills have agreed to a four-year, $50 million extension with LB Terrel Bernard. The deal includes $25.2 million in guarantees, according to NFL Network. Bernard was heading into the final (fourth) year of his rookie contract, so Buffalo didn't need to extend him yet to keep him through the coming season.

Bills HC Sean McDermott said Monday that LB Terrel Bernard is "trending in the right direction in regards to being able to play Sunday" against the Broncos, according to Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News.

The Bills have already ruled LB Terrel Bernard out for Sunday's game at New England. He's officially dealing with quad injury, and HC Sean McDermott has deemed him "probably somewhere between day to day and week to week." The coach had already indicated that his team will rest at least some starters for its meaningless finale.

Bills inactives vs. New England today include S Taylor Rapp (neck), S Damar Hamlin (rib), CB Rasul Douglas (knee), and LB Matt Milano (groin). Milano's absence should mean a start for LB Dorian Williams, who was questionable with an elbow injury but is active. He carries big tackle upside into the role he played before Milano's return. Buffalo started S Cam Lewis, CB Kaiir Elam and S Cole Bishop with the same secondary trio out last week. None supplied big numbers despite a huge-volume passing day for the Lions in that one. None is probably worth attention for your Week 16 IDP lineup.