Maxwell Hairston’s Stunning Rise: Why Everyone Is Searching His Name Right Now

Buffalo Bills rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston was carted off the St. John Fisher University practice field Tuesday after collapsing during an individual back-pedal drill, immediately silencing an otherwise lively Day 6 of training camp. Trainers stabilized the first-round pick’s right leg, and head coach Sean McDermott later confirmed the club is “preparing for the worst” while awaiting MRI results expected Wednesday morning. Witnesses said Hairston planted on his outside foot before grabbing his knee and going down without contact—an ominous sign that immediately prompted comparisons to non-contact ACL injuries that have derailed many promising careers. According to multiple reports, initial on-site testing revealed significant swelling but no bone fracture. The timing could not be worse for Buffalo. Hairston, the No. 21 overall selection out of Kentucky, had opened camp running with the first-team defense opposite All-Pro Tre’Davious White after an eye-catching spring program. Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich praised the rookie’s “rare ball skills and instincts” just 24 hours earlier, noting that Hairston already had three interceptions in team drills. Buffalo invested heavily in the 21-year-old after trading up five spots in April to secure him, envisioning a long-term shutdown tandem capable of neutralizing AFC East playmakers like Tyreek Hill and Garrett Wilson. As a Wildcat, Hairston earned first-team All-SEC honors last fall, pacing the conference with six interceptions and 18 pass break-ups while surrendering only a 45.3 passer rating when targeted. Should imaging confirm a ligament tear, the Bills would likely turn to veteran Dane Jackson and second-year corner Kaiir Elam to fill the void, but neither offers Hairston’s blend of 4.34-speed and 33-inch arms. “You can’t replace that kind of talent overnight,” safety Micah Hyde admitted after practice. “But this locker room has seen adversity before.” The setback also reshapes Buffalo’s salary-cap calculus. Under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, first-round picks who land on season-ending injured reserve still count fully against the cap, while the club must add a replacement contract on top. With pass-rusher Greg Rousseau seeking an extension and linebacker Matt Milano entering his walk year, general manager Brandon Beane suddenly faces difficult roster math. Hairston’s long-term outlook will hinge on the degree of structural damage. Advances in ligament-repair techniques have shortened typical ACL recovery timelines to 8–9 months, but any associated meniscus or cartilage damage could delay his return until the 2026 off-season. The Silver Spring, Md., native entered camp weighing 196 pounds—up 12 from his college playing weight—after an intensive strength program designed to better withstand NFL contact. That added muscle may have offered limited protection in this non-contact scenario. Tuesday’s injury isn’t the first cloud over Hairston’s young career. Earlier this month, The Guardian reported that he faces a civil lawsuit stemming from an alleged 2021 incident at Kentucky, accusations the player and his representatives deny. While the Bills said they were “fully aware” of the case during the draft vetting process, the organization is now forced to navigate twin public-relations crises as training camp unfolds. For now, Buffalo’s Super Bowl aspirations hang in the balance of a single MRI. If the scan delivers good news, Hairston could rejoin the lineup within weeks and pick up where he left off as one of the camp’s breakout stars. A grim result, however, would thrust a once-deep secondary into scramble mode and extend the franchise’s decades-long search for roster health at the game’s most coveted defensive position. Either way, the Bills—and an anxious fan base—won’t exhale until doctors finish reading the films.