Bills' Rookie Secures Returner Job Following Roster Moves

The Buffalo Bills seem to have found their return specialist for 2024 in rookie cornerback Daequan Hardy. This comes after the team cut receiver Andy Isabella and waived receiver KJ Hamler, who were both in contention for the position throughout preseason.

Hardy will take over the role after the team released their 2023 returner and one-time All-Pro Deonte Harty in March.

Hardy had experience returning punts in college at Penn State, and finished with 248 yards and two touchdowns in the 2023 season, earning him second-team All-Big Ten honors as a return specialist. Now, Hardy will have the opportunity to return kicks with the NFL's new kickoff rules, which are expected to produce more return touchdowns and less injuries throughout the season.

Hardy, a sixth-round pick by the Bills in 2024, was able to get some reps as a returner for the team in the preseason, but wasn't able to produce any explosive plays. Now, with the position secured and over a week until Buffalo takes the field for their first regular-season matchup, Hardy will have time to polish and refine his skills on the practice field.

Since Hardy also plays cornerback, the team can use his speed and elusiveness in the secondary as well. While it's unclear if he will get any in-game snaps at the cornerback position throughout the regular-season, the team can use him as depth in case the secondary were to suffer any more substantial injuries.

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Bills Mafia can watch Hardy return kicks for Buffalo when they take on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 on Sept. 7.