Former Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay Jr., whom the Pittsburgh Steelers waived on Tuesday, will now suit up against the team he was a healthy scratch against in Week 13.
According to the NFL’s waiver wire, the Buffalo Bills were awarded Slay after submitting a claim for the six-time Pro Bowler.
Slay, the league’s oldest active cornerback at 34, reportedly hoped to continue his NFL career and was prepared to consider other teams if he cleared waivers. Multiple reports indicated the Philadelphia Eagles — with whom Slay won last season’s Super Bowl as a key starter — were interested in a reunion once he became a free agent.
Instead, he now joins an 8-4 Bills team holding the AFC’s No. 7 seed and will face his former team in Week 17 when Buffalo meets Philadelphia.
Slay’s previous team, the Steelers, who signed the one-time All-Pro in March, currently sit at 6-6 and outside the AFC playoff picture. They trail the Baltimore Ravens (6-6), who hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Pittsburgh waived Slay to make room for Asante Samuel Jr., whom they elevated to the active roster after initially signing him to their practice squad on Nov. 12. Slay had joined the Steelers on a one-year, $10 million contract that included a $1.26 million base salary.
Slay’s NFL journey began when the Lions selected him in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State.
Detroit remains his longest stop, where he played seven seasons and appeared in 103 games (94 starts), recording 28 interceptions — three returned for touchdowns — along with 104 passes defended, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.