Cornerback Darius Slay puts off reporting to Bills in order to contemplate his future, agent says

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Cornerback Darius Slay has put off reporting to the Buffalo Bills to instead take time to consider his future, the player’s agent confirmed Thursday.

“Slay is honored that a first-class organization like the Bills claimed him, but he is going to take some time away from football right now and decide in the next few days if he wants to keep playing,” Drew Rosenhaus wrote in a text to The Associated Press.

Slay has 13 seasons of NFL experience, and the decision to take some time comes a day after the Bills claimed him on waivers following his release in Pittsburgh. In his first season in Pittsburgh, Slay was inactive in two of the Steelers' past three outings after losing his starting job.

He was cut to make room for the team claiming receiver Adam Thielen on waivers.

Slay was not present at Bills practice on Thursday, with the team declining to comment.

Complicating matters further, Buffalo (8-4) may have lost a player for nothing if Slay decides not to continue playing. In claiming Slay, the Bills released fourth-year defensive back Ja'Marcus Ingram, who on Thursday was claimed by the Houston Texans.

Slay, meantime, takes up a spot on Buffalo's 53-player roster as the team prepares to host Cincinnati (4-8) on Sunday. The Bills regarded Slay as an upgrade over Ingram in a bid to add experienced depth to a position where veteran Tre’Davious White and rookie Maxwell Hairston have split time opposite starter Christian Benford.

The 34-year-old Slay was an All-Pro in 2017 while playing his first seven seasons in Detroit. He spent another five years in Philadelphia, where he won a Super Bowl last season.

Overall, he has 176 starts in 187 games, with 28 interceptions, though none in his past two regular seasons.

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