Bills HC Sean McDermott Reveals Major Decision on Injured Defensive Star
Shocking news: Bills HC Sean McDermott is not going to return on def…
In the upcoming weeks, the Buffalo Bills may see a significant return on defense following a disappointing season.
On December 19, star defensive tackle DaQuan Jones was designated to return from injured reserve by Bills head coach Sean McDermott. This move began Jones’ three-week window to resume practice and perhaps return to the active roster.
Jones may make a comeback at a time when the 8-6 squad is vying for a postseason spot. A number of important defensive players have sustained long-term or season-ending injuries.
An Outstanding Season for DaQuan Jones
After sustaining a pectoral injury in October, Jones was placed on injured reserve, abruptly ending his spectacular season. According to Nick Wojton of USA Today’s Bills Wire, Jones was one of the league’s best defensive linemen with 2.5 sacks and three tackles for a loss.
“Jones was highly respected at the time he was placed on IR,” Wojton wrote. Jones received an exceptional 90.5 overall grade for the year from Pro Football Focus. When he went down, that was their fifth-best defensive tackle grade in the NFL.
McDermott stated he did not anticipate Jones to be back in the starting lineup for the Bills’ travel to Los Angeles to play the Chargers on Saturday because of the team’s short week. Jones had previously made hints that he might make a comeback this season, saying, “I’ll be back #CYL #mambamentality,” in an Instagram post a few days after being placed on injured reserve.
With cornerback Tre’Davious White rupturing his Achilles tendon and linebacker Matt Milano suffering a fractured leg, the Bills have also lost a number of other important defensive players. Two midseason signings have proven helpful to the team: cornerback Rasul Douglas was acquired via a trade deadline deal with the Green Bay Packers, and defensive lineman Linval Joseph was signed.
Another Setback for the Bills on Defense
Jones might make a comeback given that the Bills recently suffered another defensive line injury. Following the team’s 31-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on December 17, McDermott disclosed that Jordan Phillips required wrist surgery.
According to Buffalo News reporter Ryan O’Halloran, Phillips intended to make a comeback if the Bills made it to the postseason.
“#Bills DT According to Jordan Phillips, he had surgery after dislocating his right wrist. Availability is the goal, if the Bills advance to the postseason, O’Halloran wrote on X.
Having played in every game and started nine of them, Phillips was having a fantastic season. Five passes defensed, 2.5 sacks, and 15 tackles were all accounted for by him. Along with other defensive standouts, Phillips helped ground the Cowboys and prevent one of the best offenses in the league until late in the fourth quarter, when the Bills had already benched quarterback Josh Allen and allowed a scoring drive.
In order to help fill the vacuum left by Phillips’ absence and Jones’ probable absence until at least Week 17, the Bills may go to seasoned player Poona Ford. Ford, who joined the team in the offseason, has made seven tackles and one quarterback hit in his total of just five games played.
Sports writer Nathan Dougherty writes about the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills for Heavy.com. In the past, he worked as an assistant editor for the sports trade publications Coaching Management, Athletic Management, and Training & Conditioning in addition to writing for the Rochester Business Journal. Based in Rochester, New York, he has an intense passion for all things football. Additional information on Nathan Dougherty
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