Bills' Cole Bishop: Plays all snaps after questionable tag
Rotowire
Bishop logged six tackles (five solo) in the Bills' 41-31 win over the Lions on Thursday night.
Bishop entered game-day listed as questionable with a groin injury. The safety only logged limited practice sessions leading up to the game during a short week but managed to play all 65 defensive snaps in the contest. The third-year player out of Utah has become a versatile staple of the Bills' defense, frequently being moved toward the line of scrimmage and out wide when necessary.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Draws questionable tag vs. Detroit
Rotowire
Bishop (groin) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Lions.
Bishop was listed as a limited practice participant on all three injury reports due to a groin injury, and his status for Thursday's game may not be officially known until about 90 minutes before the 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff. Damar Hamlin would likely draw the start at safety alongside C.J. Gardner-Johnson if Bishop is not cleared to play.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Limited in Tuesday's session
Rotowire
Bishop (groin) was a limited participant in Tuesday's practice.
Bishop was projected as a full participant on Monday's estimated practice report. The realization of limited participation in Tuesday's complete session means the starter is likely working through a minor injury. The safety will likely log a limited session Wednesday before ultimately suiting up for Thursday's contest anyway. If the issue proves too much for the third-year player, Damar Hamlin is set to start at strong safety in his stead.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Past knee injury
Rotowire
Bishop (knee) has been participating in Bills training camp, Nick Wojton of Bills Wire reports.
The safety underwent a cleanup procedure on his knee during the offseason but is back to 100 percent health and appears locked into a starting job in the Buffalo secondary. Bishop started all 17 regular-season games last season, posting 85 tackles (53 solo), including 2.0 sacks and seven pass breakups, including three interceptions.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Makes big second-year leap
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Bishop recorded 85 tackles (53 solo) including 2.0 sacks, seven passes defensed and three interceptions in 17 regular-season games with Buffalo in 2025.
In his rookie season, Bishop played only a minor role behind starters Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin after being selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He took over as a starter himself this year, and he ended up leading the Bills in both total tackles and interceptions. His length, speed and explosiveness make him formidable in coverage, and it's clear he's also a willing tackler. With another year of experience under his belt, he should be part of the IDP discussion in 2026.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: No large concern over cramps
Rotowire
Coach Sean McDermott stated earlier this week that Bishop is "okay" after he left Sunday's game against the Bengals due to cramping, Alec White of the Bills' official site reports.
The cramps must have been really bothering Bishop for him to leave such a tight game with the Bills' playoff positioning hanging in the balance, but it also doesn't sound like something that will keep the IDP-friendly safety out of further action, which this week's practice reports should confirm. Bishop leads the Bills by a good margin with 71 total tackles on the season, and his three interceptions are tops on the team as well.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Tallies four tackles in win
Rotowire
Bishop recorded four tackles (one solo) during Sunday's 26-7 win at Pittsburgh.
Bishop's per-snap tackle production in Week 13 was in line with where it has been all season, but the Bills only needed him to play a season-low 40 defensive snaps Sunday. He figures to get a heavy dose of coverage assignments in Week 14 versus the pass-reliant Bengals.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Tallies six stops vs. Houston
Rotowire
Bishop logged six tackles (three solo) during the Bills' 23-19 loss to the Texans on Thursday.
Bishop co-led the Bills in tackles Thursday while playing every single defensive snap for the third time in his last four games (and seventh time of the season). The second-year safety has accumulated 34 tackles (20 solo) and six pass defenses (two interceptions) in the five games since the Bill' Week 7 bye.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Logs second interception of 2025
Rotowire
Bishop totaled seven tackles (six solo) and an interception during the Bills' 30-13 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.
Bishop made his presence felt in on the Bills' third defensive play of the game when he picked off a deep pass from Tua Tagovailoa intended for Jaylen Waddle, though Buffalo's offense wasn't able to convert that turnover into points. Through nine regular-season games, Bishop has recorded 48 tackles (33 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and six pass defenses (two interceptions).
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Questionable to return to MNF
Rotowire
Bishop (lower body) is questionable to return to Monday night's contest in Atlanta, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
Bishop is dealing with some lower-body cramping, which has forced him to head to the locker room. The safety had recorded four total tackles (one solo) prior to exiting the game, and in his absence, Sam Franklin will operate in a more significant role in Buffalo's secondary.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Late sack in Week 5 loss
Rotowire
Bishop recorded two solo tackles, including 1.0 sacks, during the Bills' 23-20 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.
Bishop was quiet for most of Sunday's game, but he was credited for a sack on Drake Maye late in the fourth quarter. It was Bishop's second sack of the season, and the 2024 second-rounder is up to 21 tackles (18 solo) and one interception through the first five games of the regular season.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Big pick spurs win
Rotowire
Bishop had five total tackles and his first NFL interception in Sunday's 31-19 win over the Saints.
Bishop snuffed out a Philly Special gadget play and made one of the prettier short-range interceptions you'll see this year. While the second-year player out of Utah still has some holes in his game, he's become a full-time starter and has played every single defensive snap in all four games so far. He has 19 tackles and the interception on the season, yielding modest value in deep IDP leagues, as a lot of teams may be passing the ball this season in catch-up situations against one of the NFL's better teams.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Logs five stops in Week 3 win
Rotowire
Bishop tallied five tackles (four solo) in Thursday's 31-21 victory over Miami.
Bishop has been quite consistent statistically to begin the campaign, logging four tackles in Week 1 and five apiece in Weeks 2 and 3. He's played every one of Buffalo's defensive snaps so far this season after doing so just twice over 16 regular-season contests last year.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Past quad injury
Rotowire
Bishop (quadriceps) participated in team drills during Wednesday's training camp practice, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News reports.
Bishop was unable to play in the Bills' preseason opener against the Giants on Saturday due to a quad injury. The 2024 second-rounder appears past the issue after he got work in team drills during Wednesday's practice, and he is tracking toward being available for Sunday's preseason game against Chicago. Bishop saw work on both defense and special teams during his rookie season and is competing against Damar Hamlin for a starting safety spot next to Taylor Rapp.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Dealing with quad injury
Rotowire
Bishop (quadriceps) isn't practicing Monday, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports.
It remains to be seen if Bishop will recover in time to play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Giants. Once healthy, the 2024 second-round draft pick is expected to compete with Damar Hamlin for a starting safety spot alongside Taylor Rapp (knee).
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Set for start in AFC Championship
Rotowire
Bishop is slated to start at safety alongside Damar Hamlin in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
Bishop, a rookie-second round pick out of Utah, will be stepping in for Taylor Rapp (back/hip), who was forced out of last Sunday's divisional-round win over the Ravens and was unable to practice this week. During the regular season, Bishop finished with 40 tackles, two passes defensed and a forced fumble over 16 appearances. He played exclusively on special teams in the wild-card win over the Broncos and logged three tackles across 50 total snaps (39 on defense) in the divisional round.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Participates in full
Rotowire
Bishop (shoulder) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
The 2024 second-round pick out of Utah dealt with a shoulder injury throughout August, but it appears he's moved past the issue after a full practice Wednesday. Bishop is currently slotted as Buffalo's second-string free safety behind Damar Hamlin, but don't be surprised if Bishop's playing time increases as the season progresses.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Dons red non-contact jersey
Rotowire
Bishop (shoulder) returned to practice Tuesday and did not participate in contact drills, Ryan O'Halloran of The Buffalo News reports.
Bishop suffered a shoulder injury at the end of July, which has kept him from participating in practices and preseason games. He's progressed enough in his recovery to take part in walkthroughs and individual drills, but he will avoid engaging in contact and will likely not suit up for Buffalo's preseason finale against Carolina on Saturday. Once healthy, Bishop -- the Bills' second-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft -- could see some meaningful defensive snaps early in the regular season due to injuries to safeties Damar Hamlin (hamstring) and Mike Edwards (hamstring)
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Showing improvement
Rotowire
Bishop (shoulder) is slated to take part in walkthroughs and parts of individual drills at practice this week, Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports.
Bishop injured his shoulder during practice in late July and hasn't been able to participate in any capacity since. His impending return to limited practice participation suggests that the rookie is improving, but it seems unlikely that he'll be able to suit up for the Bills' exhibition finale against Carolina on Saturday. As a 2024 second-round pick, Bishop is still likely to make the 53-man roster, and he's expected to work in a backup role while also serving on special teams.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Another Buffalo DB goes down
Rotowire
Bishop suffered an undisclosed injury during Tuesday's practice and did not return, Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports.
The Bills already lost veteran Mike Edwards this week to a hamstring injury, and now the rookie from Utah will join him on the sidelines. Buffalo did bring in Kareem Jackson on a one-year deal Tuesday, so there is at least one reinforcement available for a secondary that already lost long-time stars Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde this offseason.
