‘It started a year ago when Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott asked his top cornerback whether he wanted to shadow an opponents’ top wide receiver when the situation allowed. Do you think he was going to say no?’
BillsBeat - December 5, 2025
Friday's Cincinnati Coverage
How Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase is on the brink of more NFL history (Cincinnati Enquirer)
Will Darius Slay play vs Bengals? Bills DB mulls future, per report (Cincinnati Enquirer)
Ted Karras full of gratitude as Bengals’ nominee for prestigious award (Cincinnati Enquirer)
Tee Higgins return means Bengals can do something they haven’t done since Week 1 (The Sporting News)
Tee Higgins injury update amounts to great news for Bengals WR’s Week 14 status (The Sporting News)
Cincinnati Bengals nominate center Ted Karras for Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award (WCPO-TV)
Shedding the ‘bust’ label: Bengals end Murphy answers critics with best stretch yet (WKRC-TV)
Bengals WR Tee Higgins logs full practice as he looks to return from concussion (WLWT-TV)
Ted Karras named Bengals’ 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee (WLWT-TV)
The Conversation | Joseph Ossai On Leadership: ‘You’ve Got To Speak Up More. You’ve Got Younger Guys All Around You.’ (Bengals.com)
Quick Hits | Ja’Marr Chase’s Grand Goal Looms Sunday; Man Of Year Ted Karras Salutes Another Bengals Man Of Year (Bengals.com)
Week 14 Injury Report | Bengals at Bills (Bengals.com)
Ted Karras Named Bengals’ Club Winner for Walter Payton Man of the Year Award Presented by Nationwide (Bengals.com)
Darius Slay threatens retirement after Bills claim — with clues at ‘plan’ to land with Eagles
‘NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport wondered on X if Slay’s “plan” was to end up in Philadelphia after starting nine games in Pittsburgh before his release, which came amid declining playing time.’
Darius Slay unsure on NFL future, won't report to Bills after waiver claim
‘The Bills claimed Slay in a bid to add depth behind Christian Benford, Tre’Davious White and Maxwell Hairston on the outside. Now, however, the veteran’s future is up in the air.’
Cornerback Darius Slay puts off reporting to Bills in order to contemplate his future, agent says
‘Slay was not present at Bills practice on Thursday, with the team declining to comment.’
Bills seek to end cycle of inconsistencies, while Bengals have renewed hope with Burrow’s return
‘Amid the highs and lows the Bills experienced in splitting their past eight outings, the team showed resolve in a 26-7 win at Pittsburgh. Buffalo overcame a depleted lineup by leaning into the strengths by generating a season-best 249 yards rushing. And the defense asserted itself with its most complete outing of the season in allowing a season low in points, and cornerback Christian Benford scoring the go-ahead points on a fumble return.’
Bills host Bengals in matchup of AFC teams with recent history of dominant December records
‘Key matchup: Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase vs. Bills CB Christian Benford. Even with Burrow sidelined for all but three games, Chase is 29 yards shy of his fifth straight 1,000-yard receiving season, and 14 receptions short of his third straight 100-catch season. He’ll line up against Benford, a fourth-year player who has been Buffalo’s most consistent defender this season. Benford is coming off his best outing of the season, in limiting Pittsburgh’s D.K. Metcalf to three catches for 32 yards, had his first interception of the season and returned a fumble 17 yards for a touchdown.’
Bills defense needs to continue recent form against Bengals
‘Thompson and the Bills defense has played some of its best football this season against AFC opponents. Against the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers, in the last six quarters specifically, the unit has given up 10 points and taken a step with one of its biggest weaknesses — run defense, while continuing a run of strong success against the pass.’
Darius Slay not reporting to Bills as he mulls NFL future
‘”Slay is honored that a first-class organization like the Bills claimed him, but he is going to take some time away from football right now and decide in the next few days if he wants to keep playing,” Slay’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.’
Darius Slay will not report to Bills after being claimed off waivers; former Pro Bowl CB 'will take time away'
‘There were rumblings that the Eagles were interested in a possible reunion if Slay had cleared waivers, but it never got to that point as the Bills decided to bring in the 13-year veteran.’
Darius Slay Contemplating NFL Future After Bills Claimed Him Off Waivers
‘Darius Slay has had quite a week.’
Bills fans will love Brandin Cooks' scouting report of Josh Allen
‘“I mean, can’t give him too much, but he’s special,” Cooks said. “No doubt about it. What I love about him is he come to work every single day, he’s the same, he’s poised, but he got dog in him. Got a lot of respect for him from afar, and now being up close to him now, he’s incredible, he’s special.”’
Bills' future for Joe Brady with Josh Allen called into question by ESPN insider
‘”GM Brandon Beane has been blamed for failing to land playmaking help for Allen at the trade deadline, but there has been real and reasonable criticism lobbed toward Brady, too,” ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wrote on Thursday. “Mesh is one of my favorite pass concepts and has a place in every NFL playbook for a reason, but Brady’s reliance on it as a man-beater on key third and fourth downs for the Bills has grown to the extent of self-parody, with the Bills going to it over and over again against the Texans with diminishing returns.”‘
Bills WR Brandin Cooks has star-making opportunity in Week 14 vs. Bengals
‘“He’s awesome,” Bills receiver Khalil Shakir said via Alex Brasky of Sports Illustrated. “His vibe is amazing. He’s just a fast, quick, twitchy receiver. And I think just everything that he does — he’s one of those guys, I’ve said in the past before, where you get certain guys that they go out there and play, and you just want to watch them and see what they do.”’
Darius Slay makes shocking career decision after being claimed by Buffalo Bills
‘While having Slay could’ve helped, this isn’t some huge loss for the Bills, as Slay likely wouldn’t have made much of an impact after what we’ve seen out of him during the season.’