Safety Micah Hyde re-signs with Bills, starts on practice squad - ESPN

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Throughout the 2024 season, Micah Hyde's locker with the Buffalo Bills has remained unused and his number unassigned. On Wednesday — 13 weeks into the season — the veteran safety made his return to the team as coach Sean McDermott said he was re-signing to the practice squad.

Coach Sean McDermott made it clear Wednesday that Hyde will not initially be starting and that they will take his role one day at a time.

«Just to set expectations, Micah is in a practice squad role,» McDermott said. «We are fully confident in Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin, Cole Bishop, Kareem Jackson. They've all been doing a real good job for us in the roles that they are currently in. They're going to stay in those roles and Micah is in a practice squad role, so good to have him back and his family as well.»

He became a free agent after his contract with the Bills came to an end after the 2023 season. Hyde, who is now in his 13th season, openly contemplated retirement and had remained unsigned this season. The former Bills captain for three seasons made it clear that if he was to return, it would only be to the Bills.

The Bills drafted safety Cole Bishop in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft, in addition to signing safety Taylor Rapp to an extension in the offseason. Rapp and 2021 sixth-round pick Damar Hamlin have been starters on defense the entire season.

The Bills' defense is tied for second in takeaways (24) and leads the league in the lowest total QBR allowed by opponents (50.4).

Hyde spent the past seven seasons partnering with now-Miami Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer, starting the most games by a safety duo during that stretch (92). Poyer was released by Buffalo ahead of free agency. Both players had signed with the