Bills Announce Unfortunate Development for Falcons Game

Buffalo’s defense has not exactly been tremendous early on. While they have been strong at preventing big passes, they have struggled significantly against opponents’ running games, ranking in the bottom half of the league in rushing yards allowed.

Veteran defensive tackle DaQuan Jones has been a steady force for the Bills this season. The 33-year-old has been a key contributor as a run defender in head coach Sean McDermott’s defensive system, and also as a locker-room leader.

Injuries to players such as DeWayne Carter (season-ending Achilles tear) and T.J. Sanders (placed on injured reserve after a knee issue sustained against the Patriots) have already depleted Buffalo’s D-line significantly, but a latest development has served as another significant blow for the team.

The Bills announced on social media right before the game that Jones is a late scratch due to a calf problem.

“Injury Update: DT DaQuan Jones (calf) will not play. He was injured during warm-ups,” Bills PR posted on X.

This will force the Bills to make unexpected adjustments in their interior rotation. The silver lining is that DT Ed Oliver is available and will return to action against the Falcons after missing the last four games due to an ankle problem.

Nevertheless, losing Jones is still a considerable blow for the Bills, especially against a Falcons side that ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing attack. The timing of the injury leaves Buffalo in an even more problematic situation, requiring last-minute adjustments on the fly.

More information on Jones’ injury should be available soon, but this issue could potentially result in missed time for the veteran. If Jones is forced to sit out for an extended period, McDermott’s defensive creativity could be put to the test in the coming weeks.

Jones is currently in the final year of his two-year, $16 million contract with the Bills. The former Penn State Nittany Lions standout will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.