Micah Hyde spent the last seven years patrolling the Buffalo Bills secondary. Now, with as the team deals with a rash of safety injuries, could the 33-year-old fan favorite return to the organization?
Hyde remains an unrestricted free agent after taking the summer to decide his football future. The two-time Second Team All-Pro selection has a history of neck injuries, including one that limited him to two games in 2022, which has made retirement an option.
The Bills already had questions at safety following the departures of Hyde and Jordan Poyer, who signed with the Miami Dolphins. As those concerns grow, they may try to convince Hyde to push off retirement for one more Super Bowl push.
Is A Micah Hyde Reunion Coming For The Bills?
Key Injuries Creating Issues For Buffalo
Mike Edwards, who joined the Bills as a free agent from the rival Kansas City Chiefs, suffered a hamstring injury last week. Cole Bishop, a second-round pick in this year’s draft, went down with a shoulder injury this week. Both safeties are week-to-week. Edwards and Bishop were two of the top options to earn starting roles when training camp got underway. Taylor Rapp was the other contender.
Now Rapp is the last man standing. Damar Hamlin, Kendall Williamson, and a pair of recent free-agent additions, Kareem Jackson and Terrell Burgess, are the other safeties on the roster. If signed and healthy, Hyde would instantly become the best safety on the Bills.
Hyde’s Prior Comments About Bills Return
In May, Hyde returned to Buffalo to host his annual charity softball game. He made his intentions for the 2024 season clear. “It’s Bills or retire,” Hyde told reporters at the time. “I’m not going anywhere else. That’s for sure.”
The University of Iowa product added he was in contact with Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott. “There’s no rush at all on my side,” Hyde said. “I’ve been an open book with Beane and Sean. Just got done talking to them. And we’re all on the same page. I’m 33 years old man. I want to have a healthy life. And my family is the most important thing to me. At the same time, I do want to win a Super Bowl. That would be pretty damn awesome. So we’ll see. We’ll take it day by day.”
Bills GM Leaves Reunion Door Open
Beane was asked about Hyde last week. He noted there wasn’t anything imminent with the longtime starter, but he also didn’t close the door on a future signing. “Nothing has really changed from, I think Micah made some straight up comments around his softball deal about where he was at,” the general manager said. “We talked and he came out to [OTAs] practice one day. We had talked before that [too].”
He reiterated the fact Hyde was relishing his time away from the gridiron. “I think Micah’s in a really good spot,” Beane said. “He’s enjoying his family time, but he’s staying ready should the right opportunity come. We haven’t done anything in addition to where we kind of left things off in June.”
Will Hyde Return To The Bills?
If you read between the lines on the comments from Hyde and Beane, it doesn’t sound like either side expected him to return at this stage of the year. It feels like they were keeping in touch for a potential signing at some point during the regular season, if needed. The injuries have brought Hyde’s availability back into the spotlight earlier than expected, though. Whether he is interested in trying to play an entire 17-game campaign, along with any potential playoff contests, is unclear.
It doesn’t seem like a signing will happen in the near future. The Bills will likely try to make it through the remainder of training camp and the preseason with their current group of safeties. It’s an opportunity for some unexpected players to climb the depth chart until Edwards and Bishop return. However, if the safety group struggles or the injury concerns continue to mount, don’t be surprised if Hyde is back in a Bills jersey before the midway point of the regular season.
Main Image: Mark J. Rebilas – USA Today Sports
