Despite a slow start to the year for the Bills defensive backfield, the group is confident they'll turn things around. Week 4's loss to the New England Patriots saw two cornerbacks 23 years or younger starting on the outside.
With veteran corner Christian Benford sidelined due to a toe injury, Buffalo's starting perimeter defenders were Maxwell Hairston and Davison Igbinosun. For Hairston, it was just his seventh career start while Igbinosun made his starting debut.
Naturally, there were growing pains as Patriots QB Drake Maye threw for 269 yards and threw touchdowns.
The Bills' young defenders are focused on using the struggles as motivation, keeping a short memory and looking into how they can improve. Benford offered insight into how the room is sticking together.
"That's the life of a DB," CB Christian Benford said this week. "You've got good games, you've got bad games, you've got great games, you've got trash games. That's gonna happen your whole career… You've got another week. You've got another day. The sun's gonna keep coming up."
Head coach Joe Brady has made sure his team stays level-headed throughout the first four weeks of the season. This includes not getting complacent after victories as well as the losses, learning and improving from every game, no matter the outcome.
"When we win, everything's not perfect," Brady said. "And when we lose, everything's not wrong. There's a standard for how we want to go about things, and we're building it. We have to make sure that we're laying the foundation of exactly what we want, and not just brushing it off because we're winning."
Communication between the defensive backs has also been a big talking point since the loss. The team has dealt with a few hiccups throughout the first four games of the year, but continues to grow and learn each other as they spend more time in the new defensive scheme.
"I think we communicate good on the back end," S C.J. Gardner-Johnson said. "It's just what you guys see is just us over-communicating, trying to get to the exact call, get to what we want instead of the offense dictating what they want to do. I don't think we have any problems with communication."
Brady wants his group to focus on themselves as much as possible, not trying to do too much on game day. He's stressed throughout the year that if all 11 players do their job well, success will follow.
"If we're not all on the same page, we're going to have a lot bigger problems than we have right now," S Cole Bishop said. "But there is something to making sure once we're all on the same page, getting dialed in on our job and our assignment, and just keeping good eyes. But it's a happy medium, just trying to make sure we're all on the same page while also focusing on your job."
Under a quarter of the way through the 2026 campaign, the Bills aren't pressing the panic button on any early season struggles. They're going to control what they can control, taking it one day at a time and understanding that there's a lot of football left to be played.
"With this new defense, we're coming along well," Benford said. "It's a long journey. We've got so many more games left, so many more opportunities to put some more tape out there for us."
"It's early in the year," Gardner-Johnson said. "So I mean, if you're going to grade us on the first four weeks of the season, and don't give us grace and get it better, and look for replacements or for something to do, I mean you're not giving coach Jim [Leonhard] and Brady a chance to actually do what we can do. We're only four games in."
Scroll to see the best photos from the Buffalo Bills practice at the Kaleida Health Performance Center in Orchard Park, NY.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Tommy Doman Jr. (39), Reid Ferguson (69). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
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Anthony Kendall (30). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Anthony Kendall (30). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Sam Franklin Jr. (28). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Michael Hoecht (55). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Ar'maj Reed-Adams (60). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Helmet, Generic. Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Jude Bowry (74). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Chase Lundt (77). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Jude Bowry (74). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
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Bradley Chubb (9), Generic. Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Terrel Bernard (8). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Brock Lampe (45). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Rob Boras. Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Joshua Palmer (5). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Joshua Palmer (5). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Joshua Palmer (5). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Football, Generic. Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Reid Ferguson (69). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
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AJ Blue. Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
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Turner West. Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Turner West. Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
John Fox. Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Davison Igbinosun (21). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Damar Hamlin (3). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Skyler Bell (13). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
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Sam Franklin Jr. (28). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
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C.J. Gardner-Johnson (22). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Maxwell Hairston (1). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson (22). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Cole Bishop (24). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Maxwell Hairston (1). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Christian Benford (47). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
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Josh Allen (17), Bo Hardegree, Shane Buechele (6), Kyle Allen (11). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
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Brock Lampe (45). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Rob Boras, Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Trent Sherfield (18). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Ja'Mori Maclin (84). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Greg Dortch (19). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
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Stephen Gosnell (89). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Connor McGovern (66). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
O'Cyrus Torrence (64). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Greg Rousseau (15). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Phidarian Mathis (72). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Phidarian Mathis (72). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Kelly Skipper. Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Zane Durant (92). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Phidarian Mathis (72). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Greg Gaines (97). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
DeWayne Carter (90). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Deone Walker (96). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Travis Clayton (67). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Phidarian Mathis (72). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Connor McGovern (66). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Spencer Brown (79), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Spencer Brown (79), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Kyle Allen (11). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Cole Bishop (24). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Davison Igbinosun (21). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Maxwell Hairston (1). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Ar'maj Reed-Adams (60). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Austin Corbett (63). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Austin Corbett (63). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Tylan Grable (68). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Alec Anderson (70). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Shane Buechele (6). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Bradley Chubb (9). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Deone Walker (96). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Christian Benford (47). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Maxwell Hairston (1). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Anthony Kendall (30). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
James Cook (4), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Landon Jackson (94). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Joe Andreessen (44). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson (22). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Football, Generic. Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Tommy Doman Jr. (39), Tyler Bass (16). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Tommy Doman Jr. (39), Tyler Bass (16). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Bradley Chubb (9). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Maxwell Hairston (1), Travis Clayton (67). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Frank Gore Jr. (20). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Drew Terrell. Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Dalton Kincaid (86), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
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Damar Hamlin (3). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Christian Benford (47). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
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Greg Rousseau (15). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson (22). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Terrel Bernard (8). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Stephen Gosnell (89). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Terrance Jamison, Greg Gaines (97), Phidarian Mathis (72), T.J. Sanders (98). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Joe Andreessen (44), Terrel Bernard (8), Shaq Thompson (54), Dorian Williams (42). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Davison Igbinosun (21). Buffalo Bills Week 5 Practice, October 09, 2026 at Kaleida Health Performance Center.
