-Ed-Mulholland-USA-TODAY-Sports-8
On Thanksgiving, just two short weeks ago, Bills’ fans watched in fear as star edge rusher Von Miller lay on the turf. He was attended to by the training staff but was able to walk off the field under his own power. Shortly thereafter, Miller was seen being carted to the locker room. Initially, it was believed that Miller did not tear his ACL and only had lateral meniscus damage and could return soon. Von himself said that when the swelling went down, he believed he could return to action. Today it was announced that Miller underwent exploratory surgery where the doctors determined he did in fact tear his ACL.
The doctors repaired his tear, and he is now ruled out for the remainder of the season. It’s a massive blow to the Buffalo Bills’ defense in a season loaded with the highest of expectations. Football, however, is a sport that is all about the next man up. Behind Von, the Bills have a bunch of young defensive ends. Gregory Rousseau was on a tear before he missed the past few games with an ankle injury. Opposite Von this year, Rousseau has posted in nine games, five sacks, 25 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, 10 quarterback hits, and three passes defended. He now becomes the Bills’ top defensive end and will need to get hot again like he was before his injury.
Behind Rousseau, is the former second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, A.J. Epenesa. The former Iowa product has not quite lived up to expectations thus far. In 39 career games, Epenesa has seven sacks, 38 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, 20 quarterback hits, six passes defended, and one forced fumble. The good news is; four-and-a-half of those seven sacks have come this year with two of them in the last three games. Epenesa will have to step up big time and produce to help fill the void left by Miller’s injury.
Boogie Basham is another former second-round edge rusher. Last year as a rookie and even this year as well, he hasn’t had much opportunity. In 20 career games as a depth piece, Basham has four-and-a-half sacks, 32 tackles, 8 quarterback hits, one interception and a fumble recovery. It will be vital that Boogie steps up his game as a key rotational piece on the D-line. Shaq Lawson, a fan favorite, is back for his second stint in Buffalo. He too will be thrust into a more prominent role, not only chasing after the quarterback, but as a leader as well. Shaq has already turned his play up a notch. Last week Bills’ defensive coordinator, Leslie Frazier, said that Shaq is playing with a different intensity and, “playing every snap like it’s his last.” The Bills will lean on the veteran who has 23 career sacks, 37 tackles-for-loss, 68 quarterback hits, and six forced fumbles. Especially in the run game, where he does his best work.
