The Buffalo Bills blew out the Carolina Panthers but it came at a price. Defensive tackle Ed Oliver left in the middle of the game with an injury and was seen afterwards with a sling on his arm. Obviously this wasn't good news but it's about to get worse, unfortunately.
While speaking to the media, head coach Sean McDermott announced what the official word on the injury was. Oliver has a torn biceps and will need surgery. The good news is that he could be back in time for the playoffs.
That's where the good news stops, however. The Bills are losing Oliver just in time for a brutal stretch of games, not to mention they already had their bye week so he won't have that free week off. The Bills' next five games are at home against the Chiefs, on the road against the Dolphins, at home against the Buccaneers, on the road against the Texans, and on the road against the Steelers.
Bills get crushing Ed Oliver injury news right before key stretch
The good news is that the trade deadline is next week so Buffalo still has a chance to add some help while Oliver is out. It wouldn't have hurt to have brought in some defensive line help even if Oliver had been healthy but this just confirms that Brandon Beane needs to get to work there.
While that aforementioned schedule does see the Bills get the tougher games at home, it's still pretty clear that they'll have their work cut out for them against those teams. The Bills are also in a battle for the AFC East crown with the Patriots, who they already lost to this season and won't play against again until Week 15.
Hopefully, the Bills can get Oliver back in time for the playoffs because he's been a tremendous playmaker for them this year. He has three sacks through three games and when he's on the field, he's making an impact. Losing him for an extended period of time will hurt, no doubt.
Time to work those phones, Beane.