It’s been a whirlwind couple of days for Bills Mafia, what with the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline looming over the Buffalo Bills and their contemporaries. Yet beyond that, there’s the recent news that defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is set to re-join Buffalo for the fourth time in his career. Phillips loves the organization and the fan base, has always played his best for One Bills Drive, and said that 2025 was all about the Bills or retirement.
Well, he’s not retiring. Instead, initial reports claimed
that Phillips was set to sign with Buffalo as part of the team’s 53-man roster. That sent the internet spinning, and everyone wondered who was being shown the door to make room for Phillips.
Was the team going to move on from veteran defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, or give up early on DeWayne Carter before he even plays a snap of his sophomore season? Perhaps it was a move to counter the impending six-game suspension for Larry Ogunjobi. But Ogunjobi will be roster-exempt at cutdown, so the Phillips-for-Ogunjobi path didn’t seem relevant.
Most believed the best course of action was to sign him to the team’s practice squad, allowing him to get back up to speed and in shape for if/when the team needs him in 2025. However, those initial reports from trusted sources claimed his signing to the active roster was imminent. But hold up.
Sometimes people make mistakes. Whether news about Phillips’ return to the Bills was misheard or improperly relayed in its infancy, there appears to be a far more reasonable update. Now, Matt Parrino reports that he’s “learned” a bit more about the Phillips situation, stating:
“The veteran DT signed to the 90-man roster so he can begin working out with the team. He’ll be released tomorrow and then rejoin the team on the practice squad.“
That makes all the sense in the world. As an 11-year veteran, the 32-year-old Phillips isn’t subject to NFL waivers upon release, able to join any team of his choosing. When it comes to Phillips, he’s always going to choose Buffalo. It fits him like a glove, or a puffy coat in seasonably cool Western New York weather.
The prognostications made just 24 hours ago have aged poorly, but that’s a welcome bit of relief replacing endless conversations about who should be cut, and wondering why the Bills would do such things to the roster on the eve of the regular season. Phillips represents a known commodity as a player well-entrenched in head coach Sean McDermott’s general defensive system. He’s someone the team can plug-and-play when and where needed in 2025.
Get ready, Bills Country. Phillips is back and ready to bring the heat in 2025. Keep your eye on No. 52 this year — which should be too difficult no matter where he’s hyping up the crowd. Now… will the AFC East implode with two Jordan Phillips in the division?
