Bills’ Sean McDermott confirms suspicion about key playmaker while offering fans a sliver of hope for the future
The Buffalo Bills are going to be without Ed Oliver, indefinitely.
The Buffalo Bills delivered some bad news on Victory Monday for Bills Mafia. It comes nearly 24 hours after the team’s 40-9 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
During the matchup, defensive tackle Ed Oliver went down with an injury and was immediately ruled out of the contest. Adam Schefter reported that the fear was that Oliver tore his biceps, sidelining him indefinitely.
The reports were true, and the Buffalo Bills are going to be down Oliver for the foreseeable future. Head coach Sean McDermott confirmed the news while speaking to the media on Monday, a devastating blow to the defense.
“Ed Oliver has a torn bicep and will get surgery and will be out indefinitely,” McDermott said. “That’s what I know on it.”
McDermott was asked about Oliver’s injury, and he didn’t hold back with his response.
“Yeah, tough loss. Ed’s a really good player,” McDermott said. “He’s missed some time this year; that’s been unfortunate. Just getting him back for game two, or the start of game two. Made it through a quarter and a half, somewhere thereabouts, and then went down. We’ll miss having him, but it’s an opportunity for someone to step up.”
The head coach provided a sliver of hope in that he didn’t say Oliver was ruled out for a potential playoff push, all while admitting that the team might be making some kind of move at defensive tackle. Whether that’s internal or external is unknown, but we won’t have to wait long.
“We’ll see, when I’m done with the meeting piece, Brandon and I are going to get together here,” McDermott said.
Buffalo is looking a little shorthanded heading into the Kansas City Chiefs matchup
The Bills’ head coach opened his news conference with an injury update on defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, receiver Josh Palmer, and linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard. Needless to say, the team is still a little banged up, even outside of Oliver’s devastating injury.
“Give you the injury update here,” McDermott said. “DaQuan Jones is improving; we’ll see what this week holds for him. Josh Palmer, same. Matt Milano in the same boat. Terrel Bernard, those guys are all in the same category.”
The Bills drafted another defensive tackle in T.J. Sanders, who could see an increased role once he’s off the injured reserve. He’ll need to sit out the next two games before the team can open up the 21-day practice window. McDermott was asked how Sanders was progressing through his injury.
“He’s working through it, he will not play this week,” McDermott said.
The only healthy defensive tackles on the roster are Larry Ogunjobi and rookie Deone Walker. Walker has been phenomenal thus far, and Ogunjobi’s return is more than welcome, but the team is a little thin at the position. Potentially, Zion Logue and or Jordan Phillips could see a call-up to the active roster with all the injuries, or perhaps a trade at the position, though unlikely. Getting back Jones will be huge for the position, and allow a little pressure off Walker and Ogunjobi.
Buffalo is expected to evaluate internal and potentially external options to help reinforce the defensive line. With Kansas City up next, the clock is ticking.
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