Ed

Oliver

Bills coach Sean McDermott said he’s hopeful that Oliver can return in Week 7. This will be the second game Oliver has missed this year after starting at least 16 games in three of the last four seasons.

Oliver popped up on the team’s injury report Thursday and has now been ruled out for the week. The veteran lineman hopefully won’t miss more than a game, but he’s one of several Bills defenders who have already been ruled out for Week 5. In addition to Oliver, head coach Sean McDermott also said DT Austin Johnson (oblique) and S Taylor Rapp (concussion) won’t play vs. the Texans.

Oliver missed Week 7 but is good to go for the prime-time tilt after getting in three limited practices this week. It’s a rare reinforcement for this injury-ruined defense. Inactive for the Bills are TE Quintin Morris, LB Baylon Spector, S Damar Hamlin, CB Kaiir Elam, OL Alec Anderson and OL Germain Ifedi.

Oliver missed Week 7 with the toe issue but managed to get in three limited practices this week. He is trending toward playing, though the Bills could use their long turnaround from Thursday to next Sunday to give Oliver extra rest. Oliver notched four sacks through six weeks before suffering the toe injury. Getting him back to face the Bucs would be a notable win for Buffalo’s pass-rush.

Oliver missed Week 7 with his toe injury and considering he wasn’t able to log a practice at all last week, Tuesday’s report could be a step in the right direction. With DaQuan Jones already out for an extended period of time with a pec injury, the Bills can ill-afford to keep seeing Oliver on the sideline. Fellow defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (back) also was limited in practice today, and while the Bucs do have one of the worst rushing offenses in the NFL so far this season, the Bills need their big defensive tackles healthy before Thursday’s game.

Oliver’s presence along the defensive line will be missed, having accounted for four sacks through the team’s first six games. Jordan Phillips could be asked to play heavier snaps in Week 7 is Oliver’s absence.

Oliver hasn’t been listed on any previous injury reports with the toe issue, so it looks like he suffered the injury in Week 6. Signed to a $68 million extension in the offseason, Oliver is making good on his new contract this year with four sacks through six weeks. His career-high in sacks is five. Losing him would be a big blow to Buffalo’s pass-rush.

The deal comes with $45 million guaranteed and will tie the former No. 9 overall pick to the team for the next five seasons. Oliver, better known for his abilities in pass rush, gives the Bills a known entity in the interior defensive line amidst a multitude of turnover including head coach Sean McDermott taking over defensive play calling duties and the departure of longtime linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. The Bills should once again be more formidable against the pass when compared to their performance against the run in 2023.

Oliver entered the weekend questionable after logging limited practices. His presence is decidedly bad news for Justin Fields and the Bears offense. Bills declared TE Tommy Sweeney, C Mitch Morse, OL Justin Murray, DE Boogie Basham, LB Baylon Spector, CB Xavier Rhodes, and S Dean Marlowe inactive against Chicago.

Oliver was limited with a calf issue on Wednesday and that turned into a full-blown Thursday DNP. Buffalo’s depth rushers will again be called upon to try to help control Justin Fields on Saturday.