Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott was unusually blunt last week in asking why Kaiir Elam had been a healthy inactive for three straight games.
鈥淓verything鈥檚 earned,鈥 McDermott said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 part of every decision, a big part of every decision, for most of the reasons of who is active or inactive. Everything鈥檚 earned and will continue to be earned as we move forward.鈥
Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam stepped into the starting lineup in Week 15 because of an injury to Rasul Douglas.
If that was McDermott鈥檚 way of sending a message, it appears to have been received by Elam, the team鈥檚 2022 first-round draft pick. With starter Rasul Douglas out of the lineup Sunday because of a knee injury, Elam stepped into the lineup for the first time since playing five defensive snaps against the Colts in Week 10.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to get in a rhythm 鈥 corner鈥檚 all about rhythm,鈥 Douglas said. 鈥淪o, this was his second game, but his first one in a little minute, but it seemed like he settled in quick. I was like, 鈥楳an, he鈥檚 playing good out there. He鈥檚 making a lot of plays.鈥 鈥
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It has not been an easy season, or career, for Elam. Although he had a strong spring and training camp, Douglas and Christian Benford won the starting jobs out of training camp. Elam has thus made only two starts 鈥 against the Lions in Week 15 and against the Dolphins in Week 9 when Benford was out of the lineup due to injury. Otherwise, he鈥檚 been a reserve, or more recently, he鈥檚 been inactive for games.
That鈥檚 been challenging, but teammates and coaches say Elam has stayed engaged even when he鈥檚 not in the lineup.
鈥淚 was more so disappointed than surprised,鈥 Elam said of being inactive, starting in Week 11 against the Chiefs. 鈥淎t the end of the day, all I could do is continue to work, continue to stay ready and prepare like I was going to go out there and be the guy. My confidence was always high in myself. I showed what I can do in OTAs and training camp. Every day in practice, I go out there and compete my (butt) off. It鈥檚 just staying ready and not letting things get to you. I think that鈥檚 the biggest thing for me.鈥
While it was far from a banner day for the defense, which allowed 42 points in a win over the Lions, Elam felt like he contributed to the victory, and the advanced stats are validation. Analytics website Pro Football Focus gave him the fifth-highest individual grade for a Bills defender against the Lions, and two of the players graded above him 鈥 reserve safety Kareem Jackson and defensive tackle Austin Johnson 鈥 played a lot fewer snaps. Elam, meanwhile, was on the field for all 79 defensive snaps.
鈥淚t鈥檚 rewarding for him, and that鈥檚 what I want. I got into it because I gain joy from seeing other guys have success,鈥 Bills cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae said of Elam鈥檚 performance. 鈥淚t鈥檚 good to see it, but I鈥檓 more happy for him in terms of his body of work and what he put forth in order to get to that spot and that point. This isn鈥檛 the first time, but in the number of times when his number has been called, he鈥檚 handled his business, and this time was no different. I thought that he was punctual. I thought he was intense. I thought he was intentional about technique. All the things that I ask him to do, not perfect, but definitely working toward it.鈥
鈥淜aiir鈥檚 always ready,鈥 added nickel cornerback Taron Johnson. 鈥淓very week, whether he鈥檚 up or not, he鈥檚 preparing like he鈥檚 about to play in a game. I respect so much about him and how hard he works. He鈥檚 just always ready.鈥
After the win, Addae posted a picture on social media of himself working on a drill with Elam, accompanied by a message that read in part 鈥渟hout out to my guy 鈥 Hard work and dedication at its finest. Well done champ.鈥
Elam was unaware of Addae鈥檚 post until a Buffalo News reporter showed him. His response?
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what鈥檚 up,鈥 he said with a smile. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to retweet that. That鈥檚 awesome. I鈥檓 blessed and grateful just because of how he continued to pour into me, even when I wasn鈥檛 playing. He coached me like I was about to play, like I was about to get ready to start.鈥
Addae is in his first season with the Bills. One big reason he was brought to Buffalo was to help get more out of Elam, whom the Bills traded up in the first round to draft in 2022 out of Florida. Coach and player have formed a strong bond this year.
鈥淗e just keeps it real with me, and that鈥檚 what I respect the most out of any coach,鈥 Elam said. 鈥淛ust keep it real with me. You don鈥檛 have to sugarcoat anything, you don鈥檛 have to lie to me. Just keep it real and keep things fair. I think he does a great job of doing that, and I appreciate that.鈥
Bills defensive back Kaiir Elam, right, causes a turnover by Lions receiver Jameson Williams during the second half Sunday in Detroit.
Addae has been impressed with Elam鈥檚 resolve in the face of a turbulent career to this point.
鈥淪ometimes guys don鈥檛 necessarily have that,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey have the athletic traits, they have the attributes, but maybe not what it takes above the neck to fight through or continue to work through tough times. Those tough times may not be done. We鈥檙e all grown men and professionals here. Everybody understands that they鈥檝e got to fit within the puzzle and do their best and do their job whenever called on, and that鈥檚 what Kaiir did last week.鈥
To Addae鈥檚 point, Elam鈥檚 spot in the starting lineup might not be long lasting. Douglas spoke to reporters Thursday and expressed confidence that he will be back in the lineup Sunday against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium.
鈥淥bviously, I would want to be the day one guy and the starter, but if that鈥檚 the role I didn鈥檛 earn, it鈥檚 like 鈥極K, cool, what鈥檚 the next step?鈥 鈥 Elam said. 鈥淛ust staying ready, making plays when my number is called and just continue to rely on my coach to give me the tools to go out there and succeed.鈥
If nothing else, Elam has shown that he can be a trusted veteran behind Douglas and Benford. While that鈥檚 surely not what the team had in mind when it used it drafted him, it鈥檚 still valuable to the roster. With three games left before what the team hopes is a long playoff run, it remains to be seen if, or when, Elam鈥檚 number will be called again.
鈥淚 thought he did some good things,鈥 defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said. 鈥淥bviously, every player, you guys know, when I sit here, every player鈥檚 got things to improve on. But Kaiir has been working at practice, working in meetings and all those things. We talk about work while you wait. He鈥檚 been working while he waits. You can only be ready for when your opportunity comes.
鈥淭here were some things he did really well and some things that he could improve on. That鈥檚 every player that played.鈥
