Bills lose star DT Ed Oliver to pregame injury

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Bills lose star DT Ed Oliver to pregame injury

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Sep 17, 2026 8:30 PM ET

The Buffalo Bills are officially opening Highmark Stadium on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions, and things got off to a poor start before it even began.

Starting defensive tackle Ed Oliver was a last-minute scratch due to a hip injury that he suffered during warmups.

Bills lose starting DT Ed Oliver to pregame injury

It was a shocking announcement given that Oliver played in the Bills' Week 1 win over the Houston Texans and did not appear on the injury report all week.

He recorded five tackles, including a tackle for a loss, and recovered a fumble in their Week 1 win.

Injury Update: DT Ed Oliver (hip) was injured during warm-ups and is OUT for the game.
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) September 17, 2026

It is concerning for the Bills because Oliver was limited to just three games during the 2025 season due to multiple injuries.

He was initially sidelined with an ankle injury, only to return to action and suffer a triceps injury that officially ended his season.

He missed three games during the 2024 season.

When healthy, he is a disruptive player who can make an impact against both the run and pass. While the Bills were able to get through the 2025 season without him, they have to be hoping this is only a short-term issue and not something that lingers beyond this week. Buffalo is a Super Bowl contender again, and a healthy Oliver has to be a big part of anchoring their defensive line.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on X @AGretz

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