Buffalo Bills 1st round pick and former Cat Maxwell Hairston helped off the field

Maxwell Hairston helped off Bills training field, status unclear

One of Big Blue Nation’s brightest young stars left practice early Tuesday—and the football world is holding its breath for a Super Bowl contender.

Former Kentucky standout and current Buffalo Bills rookie Maxwell Hairston was seen being helped off the field during training camp, surrounded by trainers after going down with what appears to be a knee injury. While no official diagnosis has been released, early reports indicate it could be a precautionary measure. Still, the visual alone was enough to send waves through both Orchard Park and Lexington.

Hairston, selected No. 31 overall in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, had been turning heads in his first professional camp. Multiple reports suggested the rookie was making a legitimate push to be CB1 in Buffalo’s secondary—a meteoric rise for a player who just two years ago was an underclassman in Kentucky’s rotation.

His path to this moment has been anything but ordinary. After recording just two tackles as a freshman in 2022, Hairston exploded in 2023 with 68 total stops, five interceptions, and two pick-sixes. He followed that up with a shorter but still impactful junior season in 2024, logging another interception and two forced fumbles in just seven games. Altogether, Hairston tallied 89 total tackles, six INTs, three forced fumbles, and ten pass breakups over three seasons in Lexington.

That production—combined with a dazzling NFL Combine performance—vaulted Hairston into first-round territory. His ball skills, fluid hips, and nose for turnovers made him a perfect fit in a Bills defense looking to reload after losing key veterans in the secondary.

As of now, the Bills have not issued a formal statement on Hairston’s condition. While it's far too early to speculate on timelines or severity, any potential setback is a gut punch for a player on the verge of earning a major role as a rookie. For Kentucky fans, it’s a tough sight after watching Hairston develop into one of the most dynamic defensive backs the program has seen in years.

Stay tuned for updates on Hairston’s condition—we’ll have the latest as soon as it's available. For now, Big Blue Nation sends its best and hopes it’s just a scare, not a setback.