Jordan Phillips is familiar with leaving the Bills to continue his football career elsewhere, whether by choice or due to circumstances.
What’s also true about the 10-year defensive tackle is that he has gotten used to happily returning to Buffalo when the chance comes up.
That was the case for Phillips on Wednesday when he rejoined the Bills for a third time. He signed with them a day after being released by the Dallas Cowboys. Phillips said the reason for his departure was a disagreement with the team, particularly after spending seven weeks on injured reserve with a wrist injury.
“Seeing the smiles, and being actually wanted, it’s a hell of a drug, you know what I mean? You can do a lot for people when it’s in the right environment,” Phillips said, adding that he’s fully recovered. “I’m an acquired taste, and (the Bills) like my taste.”
This isn’t the first time Phillips has had this kind of return. In 2018, the Bills claimed him off waivers after the Dolphins had grown tired of his inconsistent play.
After leaving the Bills to sign with Arizona in 2020, Phillips came back for another two-year stint in Buffalo in 2022, but wasn’t re-signed last spring. “Don’t feel like I left, so yeah, I’m happy about it. Ready to get to work,” Phillips said.
Also joining Phillips in returning to Buffalo was defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson, who signed with the Bills a day after being released by the Cleveland Browns. Jefferson is a nine-year veteran who spent the 2020 season in Buffalo.
“I had some options. But I definitely wanted to come back here,” Jefferson said. “Winning culture. They know me. They know my skill set. And it seemed like a great fit, great opportunity.”
The players’ familiarity with the defense should make their transition easier as Buffalo (7-2) gets ready to play at Indianapolis (4-5) on Sunday.
With limited room in their salary cap, the Bills have focused on strengthening an inconsistent and injury-plagued run defense to help secure their fifth straight AFC East title and push further into the playoffs.
Starting linebacker Matt Milano, who tore his left biceps, has been out since August and isn’t expected to return until next month. Rookie defensive tackle DeWayne Carter and edge rusher Dawuane Smoot are also on injured reserve due to wrist injuries, with both players expected to return next month as well.
Buffalo’s defense has allowed 120 or more rushing yards five times this season, including 271 yards in a 35-10 loss to Baltimore in Week 4. They also allowed 149 rushing yards in a 30-27 win over Miami last weekend.
“As it relates to giving up the running yards we gave up last week or adding players for the future here, it’s all about trying to make our team better as much as we can,” coach Sean McDermott said.
On offense, quarterback Josh Allen may have to play without two key receivers, Keon Coleman and Amari Cooper, both of whom are dealing with wrist injuries. Cooper, who missed Sunday’s game, has continued practicing on a limited basis, while Coleman, who was hurt against Miami, might not be available to play this Sunday, according to McDermott.
If one or both players can’t play, Buffalo will need to rely even more on their balanced offensive attack, which has already led to 11 different players catching at least one of Allen’s 17 touchdown passes this season.
“That’s the name of the game. It’s not if you get hurt, it’s when you get hurt, right?” Allen said. “We rock with who we got. … So whatever the case is, we’ll be prepared.”
The Bills are coming off a game where Allen finished three consecutive second-half drives with touchdown passes to secondary targets: receiver Mack Hollins, rookie running back Ray Davis, and third-string tight end Quintin Morris.
Even though the Bills’ group of receivers has been pieced together—especially before Cooper arrived in a trade from Cleveland three weeks ago—Allen’s touchdown production hasn’t dropped significantly. Last season, he had 18 touchdown passes through the first nine games, and Buffalo has scored 30 or more points six times this season, matching last year’s total.
“It doesn’t matter how we win, we’re just trying to find a way to get one more point,” offensive coordinator Joe Brady said on Monday. “It can be different every game, whether we have to throw it, whether we have to run it a lot, whether we have to be a little more balanced.”
