Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin may have played his way into a spot on the 53-man roster this summer — and pushed out a fellow veteran to do it.
Hamlin has been seen as a perennial cut candidate, but managed to survive final roster cuts every summer as he held down a key role as a reserve safety and special teams ace. Though there had once again been speculation that the Bills could release Hamlin, one team insider believes it will instead be another veteran safety missing the cut.
In her prediction of the team's final 53-man roster, ESPN reporter Alaina Getzenberg predicted that Hamlin's strong performance through training camp and the first two preseason games will earn him a spot.
Getzenberg speculated that it would be Geno Stone, an offseason addition to the secondary, who missed the final cut.
"Hamlin has put together a solid camp," Getzenberg wrote. "As he has done in years past, Hamlin's availability and reliability in the summer have shown his value. He has been a most consistent backup with Gardner-Johnson missing time. This could be a close decision with veteran Geno Stone, while the special teams capabilities of Kilgore and Franklin are important."
Stone has been a steady veteran, appearing in 85 games with 53 starts. He started all 17 games for the Cincinnati Bengals last season, making a career-high 104 tackles with two interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown.
Others agree with Getzenberg. The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia also penciled Hamlin in for a roster spot after he had a strong showing in the first preseason game — even before his interception against the Browns in Week 2 of the preseason.
Ahead of the second preseason game, The Athleticâs Joe Buscaglia revealed his latest 53-man roster prediction, with Hamlin making the roster and Stone being cut.
âWhile I still have the Bills keeping five safeties, Iâve switched Hamlin onto the 53-man roster and Stone on the outside looking in,â Buscgalia wrote. âBetween the two, I think Hamlin has been the more consistent player. While Hamlin may be the easier player to get on the practice squad, heâs endeared himself to this coaching staff with his smarts and the knack for being in the right place.
Buscaglia agreed it would be a close call, with Stone just missing the cut.
âStone is a slightly more volatile asset with some missed tackles and coverage gaffes, but heâs a better athlete. However, if they reverse the decision, it wouldnât stun me.â
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