Week 5 is arriving quickly for the Buffalo Bills as they will hit the road again to take on the Houston Texans. Through the first four games, the Bills have played like one of the best teams in football. Unfortunately, the doubters started talking again after the Bills suffered an embarrassing loss against the Baltimore Ravens last weekend.
Part of the reason why the Bills were no matchup for the Ravens was because of the injuries they have been dealing with since the offseason. It all started with Matt Milano tearing his bicep in training camp that will keep him sidelined for most of the season. Then cornerback Taron Johnson suffered an injury in Week 1, making the secondary have to play Cam Lewis in his absence. Finally, star linebacker Terrel Bernard suffered a pectoral injury in Week 2 that has kept him out the last two games.
Missing two starting linebackers and a valuable cornerback hurt the Bills against Baltimore. However, we should be one week closer to atleast seeing Bernard and Johnson back on the field.
The Buffalo Bills Communications Department “X” account posted the Thursday injury report and there are some reported injuries that should worry Bills fans.
Thursday injury report pic.twitter.com/dtYqcnKLqw
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) October 3, 2024
Injuries to Dion Dawkins and Ed Oliver should scare Bills fans
Seeing any kind of injury to a reliable starter is bad enough. However, both Dion Dawkins and Ed Oliver have hamstring injuries, which can take a long time to truly heal. A hamstring injury has sidelined players for many weeks at a time. Even though they were both listed as a limited participant, you have to wonder if they will be truly 100% ready for Sunday.
Houston has two ferocious pass rushers in Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Buffalo needs to make sure that they feel comfortable putting Dawkins out there and not risking further injury.
As far as Oliver, this Bills defense has already been decimated with injuries. Losing yet another starter would be a massive gut punch. Even though Oliver hasn’t been as flashy this season like he was last year, not having him at all is much worse. Oliver can provide a pass rushing from the inside, and both he and DaQuan Jones are a great run-stopping duo in the middle.
Unless Oliver and Dawkins take a turn for the worse before game day, Bills fans should expect them suited up and ready to go. At the same time, there should be a little fear that they aren’t able to play at the best of their ability due to their hamstring injuries.