The Buffalo Bills defense has suffered a pair of serious injury setbacks over the past two weeks. The start of practice for the team’s Week 10 game in Miami against the Dolphins brought more bad news for the hobbled unit, which still ranks seventh in the NFL with 167 points allowed.
### Ed Oliver’s Season-Ending Injury
In the October 26 matchup against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium, star defensive lineman Ed Oliver suffered a torn bicep and was forced to leave the game. Oliver was placed on the injured reserve list just two days later when it became clear that he would require surgery for the tear and would be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season.
Oliver underwent surgery in Los Angeles last week and has since said that he expects to be back in action for the February 8 Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California. Of course, his assessment is doubly optimistic — assuming not only that he will recover in the next three months from a surgery that typically requires four months or more to fully heal, but also that the Bills will get to the Super Bowl without him.
### Versatile Pass Rusher Michael Hoecht Suffers Season-Ending Injury
In Week 9, the Bills scored an impressive victory over their arch-rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, but that win came at a high price. Versatile pass-rushing defensive end Michael Hoecht went down with what turned out to be a torn Achilles tendon.
Hoecht, a fifth-year veteran, was signed by the Bills to a three-year, $21 million free agent contract before the season. However, he was immediately slapped with a six-game suspension by the NFL for allegedly violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drug use. In only his second game on the field with the Bills, Hoecht endured his season-ending injury.
### Another Potential Blow: Joey Bosa’s Wrist Injury
On Wednesday, the Bills announced another injury to an important defensive player. Joey Bosa, a 10-year veteran and six-time Pro Bowl selection, did not practice due to an injury to his left wrist, according to Matthew Bové, sports director at Buffalo TV station WKBW.
Bosa was not forced to exit Sunday’s game against the Chiefs. However, WKBW sports reporter Dom Tibbets found video of a play in which Bosa “comes down already holding his wrist” and signals the sideline with a ‘thumbs up’ afterwards. Nonetheless, Bosa appeared to be in obvious discomfort, gripping his left wrist.
In video footage described by WROC-TV sports director Thad Brown, Bosa is hit by his own teammate, defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis, “coming over to help on Bosa’s 2nd quarter tackle for loss.”
### Bosa Initially Hurt Wrist in Carolina Game
Dr. Kyle Trimble, a physical therapist who chronicles Bills injuries for his Banged Up Bills website and social media accounts, identified a play in the previous week’s victory over the Panthers where Bosa appeared to suffer damage to his wrist. Despite the injury, Bosa did not leave that game.
Bosa, the 2016 No. 3 overall draft pick who signed a one-year, $12.6 million contract with the Bills over the offseason, missing Wednesday practice significantly reduces his chances of being available for Sunday’s game. The most important practice for predicting game-day participation is Friday’s session.
According to data, only about 28 percent of NFL players who miss a week’s final practice will play in that week’s game.
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The Bills now face the challenge of maintaining one of the league’s top defenses amid these significant injuries. Fans and analysts alike will be closely watching the team’s practices and medical updates as the season progresses.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/buffalo-bills/joey-bosa-ankle-injury-practice/