Throughout a season that has left the Buffalo Bills’ defense badly beleaguered by injuries, it has been the role players that have stepped up and kept the defense afloat—as much as a unit can while losing arguably its three best players.
One such example is edge rusher A.J. Epenesa, who has constantly found himself around the football.
This season, he has 6.5 sacks to go along with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
Epenesa caught one of those interceptions in Week 14 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Buffalo won 20-17 off the backs of several crucial defensive stops. The first one, Epenesa’s pick, set the tone for what would stray from the shootouts this rival has grown used to.
Bills assistant head coach Eric Washington wasn’t shy about giving Epenesa his flowers on Monday.
“Well, it seems like every time A.J. steps on the field it appears as though he’s doing something extremely impactful for our defense and for our team,” Washington said. “ … The play that he was able to make was huge in terms of stopping the momentum Kansas City had on the first drive; taking the football away, being in the right position, and doing it within the context of the call.”
Epenesa was largely held out of the box score after that point, leaving the game with a rib injury. Head coach Sean McDermott considers him week to week.
Even so, the edge rusher’s year rumbles on successfully. He has earned himself a lot of money in his final season before free agency and has continued to step up in big moments.
With a home stretch that includes two more Super Bowl contenders in four weeks, those moments will inevitably come around. While veteran edge rusher Von Miller continues to struggle, Epenesa will be tasked with creating more splash plays for the defense.
Washington attributes that success to his tendencies off the field.
“A.J.’s ready to go. His practice habits are outstanding, the way he studies and prepares himself,” Washington said. “There’s nothing that he’s doing that’s surprising to me or the rest of the members of our position group.”
If he’s healthy enough to go on Sunday, he’ll be matched up with a Dallas Cowboys offense that can’t stop scoring and an offensive line that has embarrassed even premier talents like Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jalen Carter.
The Bills can afford to lose just a single game of their final four, and with the Miami Dolphins waiting at the finish line, staying hot is paramount. If he’s healthy enough to go, expect him to find his way not only into the box score but the highlight reel as well.
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