Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver suffered a hamstring injury during Thursday’s practice. He was labelled as a limited participant on the team’s post-practice injury report. Head coach Sean McDermott did not speak to the media on Thursday, and therefore, there’s no official update from the organisation regarding his availability for this Sunday’s showdown with the Houston Texans.An vital cornerstone of Buffalo’s defense and one of its most used players across the defensive line, Oliver has played on 68% of the team’s defensive snaps this season. He’s shown flashes through four games but thus far hasn’t performed at the clip he did in 2023; he’s recorded one sack and hasn’t looked spectacular against the run, recording three stops thus far, per Pro Football Focus.
He’s coming off a breakout 2023 year in which he achieved career highs in both sacks and pressures, recording 9.5 sacks and 72 total pressures, according to PFF. His Thursday injury is particularly troubling for the Bills considering the problems they’re already working through at defensive tackle, as Austin Johnson suffered an oblique injury during Buffalo’s Week 4 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens. If both Johnson and Oliver are unable to go this weekend, the Bills would be down to DaQuan Jones, rookie DeWayne Carter, and the recently-signed Zion Logue in the centre of their defensive line; Buffalo also has veteran defensive lineman Eli Ankou on its depth chart.
He’s coming off a breakout 2023 year in which he achieved career highs in both sacks and pressures, recording 9.5 sacks and 72 total pressures, according to PFF. His Thursday injury is particularly troubling for the Bills considering the problems they’re already working through at defensive tackle, as Austin Johnson suffered an oblique injury during Buffalo’s Week 4 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens. If both Johnson and Oliver are unable to go this weekend, the Bills would be down to DaQuan Jones, rookie DeWayne Carter, and the recently-signed Zion Logue in the centre of their defensive line; Buffalo also has veteran defensive lineman Eli Ankou on its depth chart.
Making the late-week injury a bit more painful for Oliver is that this week’s game is expected to act as a homecoming for the 26-year-old, as he was raised in Houston and played college football in the city. He’s done well against the Texans in the past, amassing two pressures and eight tackles in two games; additional details regarding his Week 5 status will become available as the week unfolds.
