ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott said that the situation that unfolded from the team claiming veteran cornerback Darius Slay is "unfortunate." Slay has not reported to the Bills and it is uncertain if he will do so as he contemplates retirement. He remains on the team's 53-man roster.
In the process of waiving Slay on waivers on Wednesday, after he was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo moved on from cornerback Ja'Marcus Ingram with the hope of bringing him back as McDermott expressed. Ingram, however, was claimed on waivers by the Houston Texans.
"I'm a huge Ja'Marcus Ingram fan and will always be, so, I'm always gonna be in his corner and want the best for him," McDermott said on Friday. "So, that's really where my mind is right now and get myself ready to coach this game."
Slay said on the Speakeasy podcast on Thursday night that he had not reported to the Bills yet due to the stage of his career he is in and wanting to spend more time with his family.
"Mostly it's a family decision kind of to it," Slay said. "So, we just see how it goes though. But I'm gonna take it day by day."
He did not commit either way when asked about if he would have reported to the Philadelphia Eagles, who also put in a waiver claim for him a source confirmed to ESPN, if they had been the higher priority in the waiver order. Slay went on to speak highly of the Bills organization but said they caught him at a bad time.
McDermott did not want to get into if he still anticipated Slay possibly playing for the Bills.
"I'm really gonna focus on our team right now, so," McDermott said. "Focus on our team and coaching this game in a couple days here and I wish him the best, him and his family."
The Bills host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday (1 p.m. EST, FOX) and will be without linebacker Terrel Bernard (elbow) and defensive end Joey Bosa (hamstring). Wide receiver Joshua Palmer (knee/ankle) is set to be doubtful while tight end Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) and right tackle Spencer Brown (shoulder) are expected to be questionable.
