Buffalo Bills Player Changes Jersey Number Days Before the Opener
The Buffalo Bills are less than three days away from their 2022 regular season opener, which is Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. The game is also the NFL's Kickoff game of 2022, which is traditionally hosted by the previous season's Super Bowl champions.
The Bills are fortunate to have a pretty healthy team going into the season opener.
Only tackle Tommy Doyle and tight end Quintin Morris were limited at Monday's practice. Jordan Poyer, Isaiah McKenzie and Tim Settle were all full participants and should play on Thursday against the Rams.
While Poyer was out with his elbow injury, second-year safety Damar Hamlin saw an increase in playing time during the preseason.
Hamlin wore number 31 his first year in Buffalo but just days before the opener, he decided to switch to number 3.
Hamlin says he's worn the number 3 his whole football playing life and took the new NFL rule from last year (which gives more freedom in uniform numbers) as an opportunity to switch back to what he wore at the University of Pittsburgh.
Both Hamlin and fellow backup safety Jaquan Johnson played very well in the preseason. Johnson had an outstanding preseason and training camp and played so well he could be vying for a starting safety spot on another team eventually, assuming Poyer and Micah Hyde remain in Buffalo together for the next several years.
Poyer's in the final year of his contract and is looking for an extension to stay in Buffalo with the Bills.