Buffalo Bills CB Tre’Davious White placed on PUP list

Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White has been placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list to start the 2022 NFL season as he’s still recovering from a torn ACL suffered last Thanksgiving.

White, 27, will miss at least the first four games of the season.

White joined the team at the beginning of training camp and raised eyebrows, showing an increased workload while rehabbing, giving the Bills hope that he’d be available to start the season.

That optimism dwindled weekly, as Smith hasn’t been seen on the field in over a month.

Smith, a two-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time All-Pro, is viewed as one of the league’s premier defensive backs, playing on what was the best passing defense in the league in 2021.

Before suffering his injury last season, White recorded 41 combined tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble in 11 games. According to Pro Football Focus, White was considered one of the best playmaking DBs in the league during the 2020 season, with 17.1% of targets into his coverage resulting in a pass breakup or interception, which was top five among defensive backs. 

It is unclear what additional time Smith will miss, but Buffalo’s General Manager, Brandon Beane, doesn’t plan to rush him back.

“You’re meshing how we rehab people to what they want to see,” Beane said, per ESPN. “And so, getting that, you have to all kind of collaboratively work together in what’s in Tre’s best interest before we put him out there. So, we’re going to make sure we’re all in agreement that he’s ready to start practicing. And we’re not just going to say, ‘Hey, on a Wednesday, Thursday, Tre, get out there and play him on Sunday.”