The Buffalo Bills have been hit with the injury bug hard during the past couple weeks of the 2023 NFL season. The defensive side of the ball has seen key injuries across several starting positions.
Earlier this month, former All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White was placed on injured reserve and four days later, starting linebacker Matt Milano and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones joined White on the IR list.
Of the trio, Milano’s loss being felt the most according to NFL Next Gen Stats. According to the football analytics out, Buffalo’s pass rush is lacking without the linebacker.
Since Milano’s knee injury in Week 5, the Bills defense has been unable to defend the middle of the park. Not only has Buffalo stopped generating turnovers, but they are providing offenses ample time to find their open receivers to score touchdowns and performing at a league-worst rate:
The Bills pass defense has struggled to defend the middle of the field without Matt Milano, who suffered a knee injury in Week 5.
Their success rate allowed on passes to the middle third is 22.4% higher with Milano off the field this season.#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/P0hf75qc3c
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 23, 2023
Bills head coach Sean McDermott has his work cut out for him after taking over the defensive coordinator duties this season.
Rookie linebacker Dorian Williams is being given an opportunity to fill Milano’s shoes but it has not gone well. In two of three games, he’s been pulled for Tyrel Dodson.
If the first-year pro gets another shot, the is hope that Williams can make the jump up to a high-caliber level on Thursday against a strong, newly revamped Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) offensive line.
He’ll have his work cut out for him.
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