Promising rookie boundary cornerback Dorian Strong was lost for the 2025 season after suffering a neck injury during the Buffalo Bills’ Week 4 win over the New Orleans Saints. Now, it appears Strong’s playing future is in serious jeopardy as he deals with a potential career-ending injury.
In an interview with reporters following Buffalo’s press conference introducing Joe Brady as the team’s next head coach, Brandon Beane, president of football operations and general manager, said Strong’s football future is up in the air. “It’s a very serious deal. He’s potentially going to have a procedure that will determine whether he can play,” said Beane, according to reporting from New York Upstate’s Matt Parrino.
That early season injury derailed what had been a promising start to his NFL career for Strong, a sixth-round pick (No. 177 overall) out of Virginia Tech. Strong had earned a start in Buffalo’s Week 1 win over the Baltimore Ravens, taking 51 snaps in the secondary and adding 10 snaps on special teams while making two tackles in Buffalo’s come-from-behind 41-40 triumph over the Ravens.
Strong was relegated to a reserve role for Weeks 2 through 4, splitting time with veteran cornerback Tre’Davious White. He recorded a pair of tackles in the win over the New York Jets, picked up three more tackles in the primetime win over the Miami Dolphins, and added four solo tackles against the Saints.
In those three weeks, Strong logged 36 total snaps on defense and 36 snaps on special teams. He was placed on Injured Reserve leading up to Buffalo’s Week 5 clash with the New England Patriots and never saw action during the rest of his rookie campaign.
Bills fans are hoping Strong receives good news as a serious neck injury like this could have serious long-term ramifications on Strong’s quality of life off the field.