Did Bills rookie CB have coming-out-party vs. Dolphins? Inside Kaiir Elam’s big performance

Orchard Park, N.Y. — By the time the second quarter began on Sunday afternoon, it was unclear if Buffalo Bills rookie cornerback Kaiir Elam was even going to play against the Miami Dolphins.

Dane Jackson started the game and played all 27 snaps over the first five Dolphins drives. When he suffered a knee injury with 2:24 left in the second quarter, Elam was thrust into the game cold off the bench.

Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are two of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL and now the Bills needed their first-round draft pick to grow up in front of everybody’s eyes inside Highmark Stadium.

Elam was up to the challenge.

The Bills survived in their Wild Card playoff matchup against the pesky Dolphins, eeking out a 34-31 nail-biter in a game where superstar quarterback Josh Allen turned the ball over three times.

Early in the third quarter, the Dolphins took their first lead of the game after Allen was sacked and fumbled the ball away. Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler recorded both the sack and fumble and then scooped and scored. Bills fans watched their team squander a 17-point first-half lead and the offense had three turnovers on its last five drives.

Buffalo needed a play and the offense was forced to punt six plays later and then went three-and-out on their next drive. Somebody on defense had to step up. On a 3rd-and-19 on the next Dolphins drive, Elam read Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson. He was trying to find receiver Trent Sherfield, but Elam recovered quick enough, lept into the air, and came down with an interception to give the Bills the ball at the Dolphins’ 33-yard line.

Five plays later, Allen found Cole Beasley for a touchdown pass and the Bills never trailed again in the game.

“The crowd was going crazy right before (Elam’s interception),” said Bills middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. “Just to get that pick, I know it felt good for him. It definitely was a momentum change for just the team in general.”

Elam has had an up-and-down rookie season. The 21-year-old started six games in the middle of the season, but he missed two games with an ankle injury. By the time he returned, Tre’Davious White was back and Jackson was entrenched at the other starter spot.

Bills coach Sean McDermott said the way Elam handled the situation helped him get ready when the next opportunity came. When he wasn’t getting the reps he maybe thought he deserved, McDermott said Elam handled it the right way.

“You can put your chin in your chest and mope around or you can do something about it,” McDermott said. “It’s a test of your character at the end of the day and your teammates are watching. I thought he handled it well. Now he’s getting a chance to play and when you get your opportunity you gotta be ready to go.”

White has watched Elam work as he’s waited for a chance to have a big impact on game day. He called him a student of the game because of how he attacks the week.

“Coming in on our off days, catching balls. So him catching that pick is something that he’s been waiting on,” White said. “He really wants it. His desire to be the best that he can be is just next to none, the way he prepared, the way he comes in and takes care of the body as a rookie, man.”

The interception was a big-time play, but Elam was a force on several plays and in various parts of the game. On one Jeff Wilson run, Elam measured the Dolphins running back while navigating his blocker and upended Wilson to make the stop. The Bills run defense was superb in the game, holding Miami to just 42 yards for the game.

Edmunds tipped his hat to Elam for the way he’s worked while he’s waited. He’s offered his own advice at times as a former first-round pick himself.

“I’d just say (I’ve offered) little things here and there. He’s young, but he carries himself well,” Edmunds said. “Just kind of give him a little bit of knowledge here and there. He’s got a great room … so I just sprinkled in a little bit and just gave him a little bit of confidence as well.”

McDermott said that he spoke to athletic trainer Nate Breske during the game and Jackson could have returned to the game. The Bills held him out as Elam stepped up in his absence.

Bills cornerback Taron Johnson’s locker is directly across from Elam’s inside Highmark Stadium. He said after the game that Elam, who’s impressed with his patience, did it the right way.

“You never know when your time is gonna come,” he said. “So all you can do is just work while you wait. You just never know. I feel like he did a great job with that. Like, maybe not being in the game sometimes and stuff. But he was working while he was waiting and he was ready for his opportunity.”

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