Bills' Second-Year Defender Motivated By Playoff Benching

Bills’ Second-Year Defender Motivated By Playoff Benching originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Buffalo Bills prioritized fortifying their defensive front this offseason, with both draft picks and veteran signings. The Bills drafted South Carolina’s TJ Sanders and Kentucky’s Deone Walker, while signing former Pittsburgh Steelers starter Larry Ogunjobi.

Buffalo does have another highly-valued piece waiting in the wings in 2024 third round pick DeWayne Carter. It may be easy to forget about Carter, with the way his rookie season ended.

Carter dealt with a wrist injury during his rookie season that required surgery. When Carter returned, he wasn’t up to full form, and as a result, was inactive for Buffalo’s playoff run last season. While he may not have been ready for the playoffs last year, he will certainly get the chance to earn a vital role in 2025.

“I think DeWayne’s come back with a purpose,” said Bills’ general manager Brandon Beane at the conclusion of June minicamp. “He’s been here a lot this offseason, and I think he’s working hard. I’m sure he knows what he’s got to do.”

Carter was a five-year player at Duke, becoming the first Blue Devil to ever be a three-year captain. In his rookie season with the Bills, he played in 11 regular season games, tallying five tackles for loss and three quarterback hits in 315 defensive snaps. Carter went on the Injured Reserve in Week 7, and didn’t get activated until Week 14.

“I think he’s really, the wrist is not bothering him anymore. He did come back last year, but, kind of like Keon [Coleman], was trying to work his way back.” Beane said. “[It’s] hard to, you know, these guys have to shock and shed and get off. Easier for us to say to go do it than, if you’re the guy that’s actually coming off the procedure that he had.”

With Carter now being at full strength headed into his second NFL season, he brings a unique versatility that will allow him to earn snaps at multiple spots on the interior defensive line.

“I always liked DeWayne’s versatility coming out,” said Beane. “A lot of times we say this guy’s a 1 tech, or this guy’s a 3 tech, like I think Dwayne gives you the versatility based on how your roster’s fitting. Maybe, he starts out and he’s playing more 1, but if we have a couple injuries, I think we could move him over and play 3 for us.”

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.

Bills’ Second-Year Defender Motivated By Playoff Benching

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