The Buffalo Bills defence just took an unexpected hit.
Veteran defensive tackle Ed Oliver suffered a hip injury during warmups just hours before the team’s Thursday Night Football matchup against the visiting Detroit Lions and was subsequently ruled out for the game.
Undoubtedly a big loss for a Bills defensive front that already struggled in Week 1 despite picking up a 36-31 win — Houston Texans running back David Montgomery racked up two rushing touchdowns and 60 yards rushing for a ground game that totalled 124 yards.
Oliver, 28, played 65 snaps in that game last Sunday, recording five total tackles, one tackle for loss and one QB hit.
The eight-year vet entered the season hoping for a healthier campaign than last year, when he played just three games due to a bicep tear and meniscus injury.
Oliver has 96 regular-season appearances since the Bills drafted him ninth overall in 2019, totalling 30 sacks, nine forced fumbles, 248 tackles and 77 QB hits in that span.
Now the Bills will try to stop the Lions’ high-powered offence — fresh off scoring an NFL-best 59 points in Week 1 — without the steadying presence of Oliver in the trenches, as they play their very first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium on Thursday.
