‘Never count Micah Hyde out’ as safety returns to Bills practice
A postseason present could await the Buffalo Bills if they survive and advance enough.
On Wednesday, the Bills (13-3) designated safety Micah Hyde and receiver Jamison Crowder to return from injured reserve.
Immediately, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott made it known both players are out against the Miami Dolphins (9-8) on Sunday during the Wild-Card round.
Beyond that? It’s possible… somehow.
Crowder would provide some receiver and special teams depth. Hyde, a Pro Bowler and top-100 player as voted on by those around the NFL, would be a massive boost.
Even Hyde is a bit surprise he might get back in the fold. When first sustaining a neck injury in Week 2, it was thought to be season ending.
“My agent and myself all tweeted out “23 in 23.” I’m not gonna lie to you, when I tweeted it out, I’m thinking September,” Hyde said via press conference.
But enough motivation came from the Bills locker room, he said.
“To see my teammates throughout this season, all the things that we have been through,” Hyde said. “You name it–The weather, the injuries, D-Ham’s situation. All this stuff. Seeing my boys, my teammates, going out there and continuing to fight? I have to make it–I have to give it a go, I have to.”
Naturally, his teammates appreciate Hyde’s efforts. Quarterback Josh Allen said potentially getting Hyde back put a bit more motivation in the locker room ahead of Sunday, too.
“He’s one of our captains for a reason,” Allen said. “Just to know the emotions that he went through early in the season and to get back out here and start practicing. Now we got to do our job and do everything we can to allow him to come back.”
Of course, the true feeling of the moment came from the candid Dion Dawkins. The offensive line compared Hyde’s return to practice to the holiday season.
“Shoot, it’s like Christmas. It’s like Christmas of a new year. Christmas came in January and I’m thankful to get these presents,” Dawkins said.
There will be no rushing downstairs to open this present, though.
Hyde said his return is not up to him, it’s up to team doctors. Plus, his coach is never one to publicly rush a player back.
Regardless, it would be some trick and treat if Hyde manages to actually play another snap for the Bills defense again this year.
“Credit to Micah and the doctors,” McDermott said via video conference. “One day at a time right now. That’s really where it’s at.”
“Never count Micah Hyde out,” McDermott added.
