Sean McDermott gives big-time injury update about well-missed defender

As the Buffalo Bills are recovering from their heartbreaking Week 17 loss to the Eagles, Sean McDermott did provide an injury update surrounding defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who has been out since Week 9. Oliver has only played in three games this season due to multiple injuries.

After being the team’s defensive MVP against the Ravens in Week 1, Oliver missed Buffalo’s next four games with an ankle injury. He would eventually make his return in Week 6 against Atlanta, and then played in just one more game before tearing his bicep that placed him on the IR moving forward.

Now, the Bills have given an update about their star defensive tackle. Per Alaina Getzenberg, Sean McDermott reported that Oliver “is moving in a good direction, but suffered a setback with his recovery this week.”

McDermott had previously said that if Oliver were to return this season, it wouldn’t be atleast until the playoffs.

Ed Oliver may have chance to play football again this season

Even though Buffalo’s defense has a ton of problems, especially against the run, having Oliver in the middle of the trenches helps the Bills a ton. He can provide interior pressure and can stuff the run as well. Before going on IR with the torn bicep, he had three sacks from the interior, 10 total tackles, and a forced fumble back in Week 1 against Baltimore that ultimately flipped the momentum in Buffalo’s favor.

Buffalo is playoff bound, even as just a wild card team. Depending on Oliver’s recovery, there could be a chance where he takes the field for the Bills in a huge matchup. However, the Bills should not rush him back either. They have invested in Oliver and they should want to make sure that he is good for not just this season, but for the coming years as well.

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