The Buffalo Bills enter Week 6 motivated after taking their first punch in the mouth, though no one seems more fired up than Ed Oliver. The star defensive tackle has missed the last four games with an ankle issue and is itching to return to the field, which appears imminent.
Oliver took to Instagram and effectively told us he’s poised to rejoin Buffalo for their upcoming Monday Night Football clash with the Atlanta Falcons. He shared a photo with his teammates, including a not-safe-for-work (NSFW) caption that read more like a war cry to Bills Mafia.
In case it wasn’t clear, Oliver is eager to pick up where he left off in Buffalo’s thrilling regular-season opening win over the Baltimore Ravens. Based on his social media activity, the 2019 No. 9 overall pick is ready to lay the smackdown on the Falcons following a lengthy absence.
Bills' Ed Oliver all but announces return vs. Falcons with NSFW Instagram post
Buffalo has slow-played Oliver’s recovery, but the wait is ostensibly over. He was limited in their first practice ahead of facing Atlanta, just like the entire week before they lost to the New England Patriots. Barring any setbacks, Bills fans should expect to see him in the lineup in Atlanta.
Bills fans would love to see Oliver be a full participant and progress enough to avoid a designation. Nevertheless, his month-plus-long absence has culminated in him suiting up for Buffalo’s interconference showdown with the Falcons.
Equally as massive a difference-maker for the Bills as he is for his opponents, the Falcons probably wouldn’t mind Oliver sitting out one more contest. The seventh-year veteran is a one-man wrecking crew whose presence in the middle of the trenches solidifies a stout pass rush. Buffalo also needs him to plug up rushing lanes, especially against Atlanta’s standout running back, Bijan Robinson.
If his efforts when we last saw him are any indication, Oliver was primed for a massive campaign before getting injured. He tallied six tackles (three for loss), two quarterback hits, a sack and a critical forced fumble that gave Buffalo life in the fourth quarter. Falcons signal-caller Michael Penix Jr. must be cognizant of the standout interior defender, assuming the Bills clear him for action.