The Bills have a tough road ahead with defensive injuries piling up
The Buffalo Bills entered the 2022 season with high hopes after reaching the AFC Divisional Round in each of the past two seasons. However, their aspirations of making a deep playoff run are facing an early challenge as injuries are starting to pile up on the defensive side of the ball.
The Bills might have lost another defensive cornerstone to injury on Sunday in Matt Milano. G Fiume/Getty Images
In just their first three games, the Bills have lost impact players like defensive tackle Ed Oliver, safety Micah Hyde, and cornerback Dane Jackson to injuries. Oliver suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 against the Titans and is expected to miss around 4-6 weeks. Hyde, a team captain and leader of the secondary, is out for the season after having surgery to repair a neck injury suffered against the Titans. Jackson suffered a neck injury against the Titans as well and his status is still uncertain, but it looks like he could miss multiple weeks.
Losing Oliver, Hyde, and Jackson in such a short span is a huge blow to Buffalo's defense. Oliver is one of their best interior pass rushers and held opponents to just 2.9 yards per carry in his direction last season. Hyde is a Pro Bowl-caliber free safety and quarterback of the secondary. And Jackson had emerged as a reliable starter at cornerback after Tre'Davious White's ACL injury last year.
Replacing players of that caliber will not be easy. The Bills will have to rely on depth and backups to step up in their absence. Jordan Phillips and Tim Settle will see increased snaps filling in for Oliver on the defensive line. Jaquan Johnson and Damar Hamlin are expected to split time replacing Hyde at safety. Kaiir Elam and Siran Neal will battle for extra snaps in place of Jackson. But none of those replacements have the same proven track record or production as the injured starters.
The injuries also come at a difficult time in Buffalo's schedule. After facing the Dolphins, Ravens, and Steelers over the next three weeks, their November slate includes matchups against the Packers, Jets, Vikings, and Bears - all teams with capable offenses. Facing those offenses without Oliver, Hyde, and Jackson will make Buffalo's defense much more vulnerable.
The schedule gets even tougher in December with games against the Jets, and Dolphins again, and back-to-back matchups against the Patriots. New England in particular has given Buffalo trouble the past two seasons, and the Bills will want their defense at full strength for those pivotal AFC East showdowns.
While Buffalo has shown an ability to overcome injuries in recent years, the volume and importance of players lost early this season may prove too much. The depth on defense is being severely tested, and it remains to be seen if backups can adequately fill those roles. The offense, led by Josh Allen, and Stefon Diggs, and the passing game, will have to carry an even bigger load.
General manager Brandon Beane and the front office will surely be monitoring the waiver wire and trade market closely over the coming weeks for any potential reinforcements. But quality starters at premium positions like defensive tackle and safety are rarely available in-season. The Bills may have to get creative to bolster the defense for the stretch run.
Even if Buffalo can tread water over the next month while players recover, the injuries could have longer-term effects as well. Oliver, Hyde, and Jackson would have been counted on heavily in critical late-season and playoff matchups. Their absence may weaken Buffalo's championship aspirations in the long run.
Battling through injuries is part of overcoming adversity in the NFL. But the volume and timing of losses on defense have undeniably made Buffalo's road to repeating as AFC East champs and contending for a Super Bowl much tougher. How Sean McDermott, Leslie Frazier, and the defense respond over the coming weeks could determine if the Bills remain a true Super Bowl contender or fall back in a loaded AFC.
