‘Not good’ — Bills head coach Sean McDermott offers worrying injury update
Things aren’t going great on the injury front at One Bills Drive
The injuries keep on coming for the Buffalo Bills. On Monday, the team officially placed defensive end Michael Hoecht on the injured reserve. He tore his Achilles’ tendon against the Kansas City Chiefs and is now out for the season, a devastating blow to the defense.
It’s not only that, as Bills Mafia is well aware, that defensive tackle Ed Oliver suffered a torn biceps and has been ruled out indefinitely. Two of the biggest pieces on the defensive front are either done for the year or sidelined until the playoffs.
Head coach Sean McDermott spoke to the media on Monday and provided another update, and it’s not looking good. Rookie cornerback Dorian Strong has been on injured reserve with a neck injury. He was seeking a second opinion, as the team had not provided much else since then.
McDermott was asked about his availability, and it has the fan base more than a little concerned about when the team could get him back.
“Not good,” McDermott said.
Dorian Strong performed well in four games for the Bills
As Alaina Getzenberg, Buffalo Bills reporter for ESPN, shared on X, McDermott didn’t want to get into the details for respect out of the player. Not a good look for those hoping to see a return soon from the cornerback. In Week 1 against the Ravens, Strong looked good outside of a holding call and some miscommunication, even tracking down Derrick Henry for a solid tackle.
He got better as the games progressed, appearing in the first four games for the Bills. In those wins, Strong had 10 combined tackles, with fans clamoring for him to take over as CB2.
There is no timeline for when or if he can return and compete.
Injuries to both the offense and defense
Outside of Oliver, Hoecht, and Strong, the team is struggling. Nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, linebacker Shaq Thompson, and wide receiver Josh Palmer were all unable to play in the win against the Chiefs.
Buffalo also placed safety Taylor Rapp on the injured reserve, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. In September, defensive tackle DeWayne Carter suffered an Achilles injury and was quickly ruled out of the season.
The Bills have rookie defensive tackle T.J. Sanders, safety Damar Hamlin, offensive tackle Tylan Grable, and kicker Tyler Bass still on the injured reserve. More than a few key pieces have been missing time or have had missed time through the team’s first nine weeks.
As the injuries mount, roster flexibility and next-man-up mentality will determine Buffalo’s staying power. The team’s depth on both sides of the ball will play a major role in the Bills keeping their momentum going through the second half of the season.
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