Tre’Davious White’s determination has never been in question. The veteran cornerback continues to fight his way back from two major injuries — a torn ACL and Achilles — that limited him to just 17 games over the last three seasons. Now 30 years old, White is still striving to return to the elite form that once made him the cornerstone of Buffalo’s defense. His tireless work ethic is well known within the locker room — teammates recall seeing him sprint up the steep hill at St. John Fisher University after practices during training camp. He remains a respected leader and mentor, embodying the values head coach Sean McDermott has prized since drafting him out of LSU in 2017.
But on the field, White’s comeback has been rocky. After signing a one-year deal in April, the Bills hoped he could stabilize their secondary — not necessarily dominate, but perform reliably. So far, he’s struggled. In Buffalo’s 23–20 loss to the Patriots, White surrendered four catches for 72 yards and committed a costly pass interference penalty that set up a New England touchdown before halftime. Through four games, he’s allowed 12 receptions on 15 targets for 119 yards and one score, while showing diminished speed — an issue opponents like the Dolphins have already exploited with crossing routes.
Buffalo’s cornerback depth is now a growing concern. Christian Benford, the team’s top corner, has had his own inconsistencies, and rookies Maxwell Hairston and Dorian Strong — once expected to challenge for key roles — are both sidelined with injuries. McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane have few options behind them, and with limited salary cap space, finding outside help before the trade deadline won’t be easy. The defense has only two pass breakups all season and ranks near the bottom of the league in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus.
While the Bills’ pass rush and safety play share some blame, the inability of their corners to win one-on-one matchups has become a pressing issue. White’s struggles are magnified as Buffalo faces a difficult stretch of opposing receivers — Drake London, Tetairoa McMillan, Rashee Rice, Emeka Egbuka, Nico Collins, DK Metcalf, and Ja’Marr Chase. Each matchup will test a secondary still searching for its old swagger.
White’s story could still turn into a remarkable comeback if he finds his form and helps deliver the championship Buffalo has chased for decades. But as Lance Lysowski asks — with the team’s title window open now — how much longer can Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane afford to wait for Tre’Davious White to be that player again?
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