Imagine being let go from your dream job, called back into the office a day later, and sent packing again the next day.
That’s the whirlwind Daequan Hardy just lived through.
The Buffalo Bills released the second-year cornerback during roster cuts on Tuesday. He re-signed to the practice squad Wednesday. By Thursday, Hardy was cut again.
In corresponding moves, Buffalo added cornerback Jalen Kimber and defensive end Andrew Jones Jr. to their practice squad. The Bills had one open practice squad spot after Wednesday’s signings so they’re now at capacity with 17, including Travis Clayton on the international pathways program.
Hardy, a 2024 sixth-round pick out of Penn State, seemed in line to be the return specialist last year. But Buffalo traded for Brandon Codrington on cutdown day and promptly released Hardy. Hardy spent the 2024 season on the practice squad.
Hardy’s preseason struggles
Hardy made nine tackles in the preseason but struggled in the finale against Tampa Bay. He started at nickel cornerback with Taron Johnson and Cam Lewis out, but his 29.5 Pro Football Focus grade ranked last among 27 Bills defensive players.
He gave up touchdowns to Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookies in the final two minutes of each half. With 58 seconds left in the second quarter, quarterback Kyle Trask floated a pass over Hardy’s head to Tez Johnson for a score. Just after the two-minute warning, Garrett Greene caught a leaping touchdown as Hardy slipped in coverage.
Earlier in the preseason, Hardy graded better, 60.1 in Week 1 (20th of 36 Bills players) and 65.8 in Week 2 (6th of 28). He had a 27-yard kickoff return in the opener, but never got another opportunity as the return competition narrowed to Codrington and Laviska Shenault. Codrington ultimately won the job.
Bills sign CB Jalen Kimber to practice squad
Buffalo swapped one Penn State cornerback for another.
Jalen Kimber, 6-foot and 190 pounds, went undrafted in 2025 after posting 35 tackles and three pass breakups as a senior. He spent camp with the Tennessee Titans and recorded two preseason tackles before being released Monday.
Kimber previously played two seasons each at Georgia and Florida before transferring to Penn State.
Bills sign DE Andre Jones Jr. to practice squad
Buffalo didn’t have an edge rusher on its initial practice squad roster. Jones Jr. fixes that. Jones Jr. was a seventh-round pick by the Washington Commanders in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-5, 258-pounder appeared in 16 games over two seasons, including 14 games and two starts as a rookie. He has five career tackles and three passes defended.
Jones Jr. was released by Washington on Tuesday.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills release cornerback for second time in three days
Reporting by Ryan Miller, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
