It took all of three practices for Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady to decide that Amani Hooker, the team’s new addition at safety, will play in Week 10 against the New York Jets. In meeting with members of the media, Brady revealed that Hooker “definitely is gonna play, and excited to see whatever that role kind of looks like.”
The Bills and president of football operations/general manager Brandon Beane knew the time was right to take advantage of the looming trade deadline. In doing so, Buffalo
has brought in someone they immediately identified as a starter for defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s system.
Brady, ever the master press chess player, was careful not to reveal too much about their plans for Hooker. He did say that play time is yet to be determined, noting that “from a comfort level, we don’t want to put him out there and do anything that is not fair to him and the team.” Brady and the team’s defensive coaches have been impressed with Hooker’s ability to quickly assimilate within the team’s defense, including the ability to “communicate in our language.”
Hooker’s arrival means that once again veteran safety Damar Hamlin is likely to take a step back into a reserve role. Despite that, Hamlin has embraced his new teammate, helping him get comfortable with his new role in Buffalo.
Brady was asked about Hamlin and he emphatically stated that “Damar Hamlin has an incredibly important role on this football team, and he’s gonna play a big part on this football team in a lot of different areas.”He did acknowledge that Hooker’s arrival might prove frustrating for Hamlin, who seemed to play well the last two games, and spoke about the situation at length, saying:
“Look, regardless of (if) someone says it or not, anytime you have an opportunity to be a starter and then you trade for somebody else, it can be a natural tendency to kind of maybe get frustrated. Right? But I believe Damar, and the safeties, and the team — we have a lot of guys on this team that can put pride aside and say ‘hey whatever we gotta do to win a football game’… …that’s what Damar Hamlin’s all about and that’s what he’s always been about. He just wants opportunities to compete, and he’s out there competing. And if it helps the Buffalo Bills, that’s what he’s about. So, that’s why we love him and that’s why — the trade was not an indication of Damar Hamlin, and more so just an opportunity for us to improve our football team.”
Though Hooker will, in fact, make his Bills debut in Week 10, it’s possible we still see Hamlin in action on defense depending on the situation. He may also reclaim a significant role on special teams, where the last two games Hamlin played zero snaps with the special teams units.
