The Buffalo Bills have been hit with the injury bug to start their 2024 campaign.
Injuries are always a big factor in any NFL season, but the Bills keep losing vital pieces to their team, and the losses are starting to pile up.
Already down to their backup linebackers and nickel back, the team is now without defensive tackle Ed Oliver (hamstring) and safety Taylor Rapp (concussion). So, now the injury bug has affected all three levels of the defense.
It has started to make its way to the offense as well, as starting slot receiver Khalil Shakir has been ruled out with an ankle injury.
Injuries are never good for a team, but for young individuals finally getting their break, it’s a great opportunity to put their play on film.
Due to injury (and the suspension of Von Miller), four Bills rookies will be stepping into a presumed bigger role on Sunday: defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, safety Cole Bishop, defensive end Javon Soloman, and wide receiver Keon Coleman.
DeWayne Carter
DeWayne Carter is now thrust into a more prominent role on the defensive line in the absence of Ed Oliver. Carter hasn’t seen much action to start his rookie year. He has played just 81 snaps through four games. Last week against Baltimore he played his most amount of snaps (26) and was able to record two tackles and an assist. The Bills were excited to be able to draft Carter after adding a third-round pick in a draft day trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. Now it’s time to see what the former Duke Blue Devil team captain is all about.
Cole Bishop
Cole Bishop saw his first extended work of the season in Week 4 after Rapp left the game. He played 41 snaps and logged three tackles. According to PFF, he had a 33% missed tackle rate, so that is something he will have to improve on. He is now making his first career start. The instincts in coverage on the second level and the ability to break down and make tackles is on tape from his time at the University of Utah. Now he has to prove he can learn quickly at the next level. He will face a big test in his first start going up against a dangerous Texans’ passing attack.
Javon Solomon
Rookie edge defender Javon Solomon’s 16 sacks at Troy led the FBS in 2023. And, in limited snaps so far this year (17 total), he has shown flashes. With Von Miller being suspended four games, now is Solomon’s time to shine. Through his first 17 pro snaps, he has posted an impressive 93.3 defense grade and a 93.6 pass rush grade, according to PFF. His pass rush grade only trails Aidan Hutchinson and Myles Garrett in the entire NFL. They each have over 100 pass rush snaps while Solomon only has 11, but the flashes are there.
Keon Coleman
The Bills’ number one wide receiver Khalil Shakir will miss the game Sunday. While Shakir and Coleman don’t line up in the same spots often, there will still be more targets to go around on offense. Coleman and quarterback Josh Allen were able to get on the same page in the second half of Week 4’s loss. They connected on two impressive back-shoulder receptions on the sideline. Coleman has the physical size and athletic ability to out-jump and out-reach mostly any secondary defender. Now that he has more trust in his quarterback, and with Shakir being out, it will be interesting to see how much they lean on their top draft choice from April.