Maxwell Hairston did not start Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams despite Bills coach Joe Brady saying two days earlier that he would.
Rookie Davison Igbinosun opened the game opposite Christian Benford at outside cornerback.
Damar Hamlin started at nickel cornerback, with Anthony Kendall also rotating into the slot after being signed from the practice squad earlier Monday.
Hairston was not on the field for Buffalo's opening defensive possession.
That was a change from what Brady said Saturday.
"Maxwell's our starter," Brady said. "He's going to have an opportunity Monday night to go out there and make plays, and I fully expect him to make them."
Brady did leave open the possibility that Igbinosun would have a larger role, saying the Bills would "see what that looks like come Monday" when asked about the playing-time split.
The opening lineup still represented a notable change after Hairston's difficult performance in Buffalo's 29-26 loss to the New England Patriots.
Hairston allowed four receptions for 44 yards on seven targets against New England, but all four catches resulted in first downs, including two touchdown receptions by Romeo Doubs.
Hairston also allowed a fourth-down conversion, committed a defensive holding penalty in the end zone that erased a third-down sack and took a poor angle on Hunter Henry's game-clinching first down late in the fourth quarter.
Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said afterward that Hairston's effort wasn't good enough on the final play.
Hairston returned to the podium Monday and apologized for leaving the locker room without speaking to reporters after the game.
"I wasn't at my best yesterday," Hairston said. "The biggest thing is just finding the mistake of why I wasn't, and not allowing that to continue to be a mistake."
Brady remained publicly supportive of Hairston throughout the week.
He said Monday there was a reason Buffalo kept Hairston on the field against New England and predicted he would respond against Los Angeles.
"He's going to be out there this Monday," Brady said. "And he's going to make a play."
But when Monday night arrived, Igbinosun got the first opportunity opposite Benford.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Maxwell Hairston doesn't start for Bills despite Joe Brady saying he would