Despite the Buffalo Bills losing a close game to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London last Sunday, the Bills defense put up a complete effort, showing that they had the players to come in and substitute for key injuries to vital names on that side of the ball.
Key Injuries Means “Next Man Up” Mentality
The Buffalo Bills may have lost star (DE) Greg Rousseau and All-Pro (CB) Tre White, who is now out for the year due to serious injuries, but it could have been easier for the defense to just give up and use the “we have too many injuries” excuse.
What the coaches had however, was two replacements in up-and-coming (DE) A.J. Epenesa, who was all over the field Sunday, and second (CB) Dane Jackson who had a strong first half, playing the number one role in substitution for White.
Bills DE A.J. Epenesa (57) – Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
AJ Epenesa Breaks Out in First Start of Season w/Buffalo Bills
Since he was drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the 54th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, AJ Epenesa and the Bills brass knew he had the potential to be a fierce pass rusher and also quick enough to stop the run too.
At 6’6″, 250 lbs., fans wondered if the former Iowa product would be another Eric Flowers or Aaron Maybin, two former undersized (DE’s) drafted by the Bills who flamed out of the NFL quickly.
Epenesa is a different type of undersized (DE) as he is your more modern (DE) with athleticism and quickness to get off the line and wreak havoc in the backfield.
It took him a little while to get going, but after showing glimpses of brilliance and decent play as a rotational (DE), he finally earned his opportunity to have a breakout performance in his first start since Rousseau was ruled out this week with an injury.
He’s also having the advantage of playing for a guaranteed long-term contract. This year, he’s in the final season of his rookie, entry-level contract, and so he’s motivated by that to have a Milano-Rousseau caliber type of year.
The high-motored defensive end was a force this past Sunday in his first start. He had two sacks, (one that forced a fumble recovery), and he knocked down three passes attempted by Jags (QB) Trevor Lawrence.
Buffalo Bills Combo: Tyrel Dodson and Dorian Williams Take Over
When Star (MLB) Matt Milano went down with a devastating fractured knee, fans panicked as Milano is arguably one of the best middle linebackers in the league.
But as previously mentioned, there’s no crying in the NFL, as it is once again, Next Man or in this case, “Next Men Up” mentality.
Bills MLB Tyrel Dodson (53) – Rick Osentoski/AP Photo
Enter the combo middle linebacker, Tyrel Dodson. He was the initial starter at that position in the preseason, as Terrel Bernard was injured and didn’t play a single snap then.
Bills Rookie MLB Dorian Williams (42) – Mark Konezny/USA TODAY Sports
Dorian Williams, the second of the dynamic dual is a rookie climbing his way to elite status. But one thing he has you can’t coach is pure speed and athleticism as a small linebacker.
Williams may not have the experience or the playing time yet to become a great linebacker in the NFL, but he ran a 4.49, 40-yard-dash which for a linebacker, is blazing fast.
His small frame doesn’t matter, as you can use him much like Milano. He ran a faster 40 time than Milano did during his NFL combine day.
The speedy (MLB) had four tackles during Sunday’s game while Dodson tallied six tackles, and picked up an Ed Oliver offensive sack by (QB) Lawrence inside the Bill’s 25-yard line.
What Could of Caused Buffalo Bills Injuries on Sunday?
In 2026, the Buffalo Bills are scheduled to open a new stadium modeled after Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But thank goodness, it’s going to be on grass.
While Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hosts its NFL games on cement turf, it lets its Tottenham Hotspur soccer team play on natural grass. They bring in artificial turf and the surface is rolled out for the seven NFL games played there.
Bills CB Taron Johnson (7) – R. Auberger/Buffalo Rumblings
Buffalo Bills cornerback Taron Johnson voiced his frustration when leaving the game after injuring his knee on artificial turf. When returning to play, he addressed the media in his postgame press conference.
“That (bleeping) turf, to be honest with you,” Johnson said to reporters. “The turf was terrible here. They have to get rid of it – report that. If we can do grass, we should do grass.”
Besides Johnson, several other Bills players were furious about the playing turf and checked for traumas during the game: (OT) Dion Dawkins, (OL) Walker Little, (DT) Ed Oliver, and (ER) Leonard Floyd.
It’s one thing the Buffalo Bills lost this game 25-20, but they have a bigger long-term loss as star linebacker Matt Milano is most likely out for the season now after suffering a fractured leg and knee injury.
