Most Philadelphia Eagles fans were disappointed to hear that cornerback Darius Slay did not clear waivers and was picked up by the Buffalo Bills, a Week 17 opponent of the Birds, who will be ready for them after the latest up.
Slay and the Pittsburgh Steelers mutually agreed to part ways after he was a healthy scratch in the Week 13 matchup against, ironically, the Bills. The Bills scooped him up on waivers and were able to pick him up despite reports that the Eagles and Slay had mutual interest in a reunion.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport confirmed the interest, adding that the Eagles also put in a claim for Slay. Buffalo had priority over Philly, so they won the Slay contest.
A little extra juice was just added to that Week 17 Eagles-Bills game
The Eagles needed Slay in the secondary after the season he has had at cornerback. Adoree' Jackson and Kelee Ringo tried to replace Slay as the CB2 this season, and the experiment did not go well.
It is all on Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, though, as he was the one who released Slay to try to get younger. His replacement choices were not good ones and have held the defense back a bit this season, with poor play for the most part.
Now, the Eagles will have to face Slay on the other side as he tries to help the underperforming Bills get back on track in pursuit of their first Super Bowl ever. Slay was a key contributor on both of the Eagles' Super Bowl teams in 2022 and 2024, with the Lombardi Trophy coming home to Broad Street back in February.
Read more: Eagles looking more and more like they won't avoid Justin Herbert in Week 14
If the Eagles needed any motivation for that Bills game, besides the potential to win an NFC East division title or make the postseason, they just got it.