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Bills Rookie Safety Named to IR With Designated to Return to Treat PTSD After Heartbreaking Loss of Girlfriend

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Buffalo, NY – August 27, 2025 – Cutdown day is usually about tough football choices, but for the Buffalo Bills it became something more human. As the team finalized its 53-man roster, one story stood apart.

The Bills confirmed they had placed a rookie safety on Injured Reserve with a designation to return, a decision tied not to a physical injury alone but to the weight of grief and trauma.

The heartbreaking backdrop was the death of Lina Bina, a 24-year-old online personality known as MissJohnDough, whose passing from surgical complications earlier this month sent shockwaves through social media and the NFL community.

That rookie is Wande Owens, who joined Buffalo after a standout career at Yale and New Hampshire. “She lifted me through every exam, every practice, every moment of doubt. She wanted me to reach the NFL more than anything. But when I finally made it… she was already gone,” Owens shared softly, as teammates gathered to support him.

Owens’ résumé already spoke to his leadership: 276 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and two First-Team All-Ivy honors. But no stat sheet could prepare him for a personal loss that now defines his first NFL season.

Head coach Sean McDermott emphasized compassion above all. “Family and mental health come first. Wande has our full support,” a team source explained, making clear the organization sees his well-being as the priority.

By moving him to IR with designation to return, the Bills keep the door open for Owens to rejoin the roster later this season once he’s ready. Until then, his fight is away from the field.

When Owens does return, every step and every snap will carry the memory of the person who believed in him most — transforming football into a tribute of love, resilience, and healing.

NFL Opens Investigation Into Referee Carl Cheffers Over Chiefs Game Controversies
The NFL has launched a formal investigation into veteran referee Carl Cheffers following mounting accusations of bias and game-altering decisions involving the Kansas City Chiefs. The latest controversy came during the Week 1 International Series matchup between the Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil, on September 5, 2025. In the third quarter, Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart slapped the facemask of Chiefs star Travis Kelce after a Kareem Hunt run. Tart received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty but was not ejected from the game. Minutes later, he delivered a crucial stop, batting down a Patrick Mahomes pass that shifted momentum to Los Angeles. Chiefs fans were outraged. This wasn’t the first time Cheffers drew fire from Kansas City. In Super Bowl LV, his crew penalized the Chiefs 11 times for 120 yards compared to just four flags on the Buccaneers. That lopsided officiating still stings across Chiefs Kingdom. The combination of past controversies and the Week 1 incident has sparked accusations of unfair treatment. Critics argue that failing to eject Tart directly altered the outcome, keeping a defensive playmaker on the field for a game-changing moment. League sources told The Athletic that Cheffers could face disciplinary action, including potential suspension from officiating certain games. While nothing is finalized, the probe underscores how seriously the NFL is treating the allegations. Chiefs players and coaches have remained quiet publicly, with Andy Reid declining to address the officiating. But fan reaction has been explosive, with calls across social media labeling the matchup “rigged” and demanding accountability. As the investigation unfolds, the NFL finds itself under pressure to restore faith in officiating. If sanctions follow, Cheffers could be sidelined from key assignments, sending a message about integrity at the league’s highest level.