An Area of Concern Springs Up On Defense
As usual, the Buffalo defense enjoyed a strong day. The Bills limited the Jets to just 254 total yards and only 15 first downs on 11 drives. Darnold was mostly ineffective in this game and New York ran for only 52 yards. However, there is some concern for the Buffalo defense heading into Week 2.
That is with the Bills’ linebacking corps, which was hit hard with injuries on Sunday. First, Matt Milano left the game shortly before halftime with a hamstring injury. He did not return to the game. Later, Edmunds was hurt as he tried to tackle Crowder on the play where Crowder broke free for a 69-yard touchdown. Edmunds landed hard on his right shoulder and had to leave the game. Like Milano, he did not return.
On the Jets’ final drive of the game, Tyrel Dodson, who was filling in for Edmunds, went down with an injury and had to leave the game as well.
As of Sunday night, there was no update on the status of the injured players. It goes without saying, however, that the Bills are in a tough spot if either Edmunds or Milano are lost for a significant amount of time.
Edmunds was beginning to emerge last season as one of the best young linebackers in football, a player the Bills traded up for to get in the same draft they picked Allen. Edmunds was one of the biggest reasons for the Bills success on defense last season, emerging as both a dependable run defender and pass defender. He also is on the field for virtually every defensive snap. Milano is a key player in the nickel defense scheme employed by Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier. A former college safety, Milano is the best coverage linebacker the Bills have on the roster and is integral to defending running backs and tight ends in the passing game. He made an impact on Sunday with an interception of an ill-advised Darnold pass over the middle in the second quarter.
The talent gap between Edmunds and Milano and the other linebackers on the Bills’ roster is huge. AJ Klein took over Milano’s role in the nickel defense and struggled to keep up in coverage. It would be a huge downgrade for the Buffalo defense if they have to dip in to their depth at linebacker in the coming weeks. You’d be looking at players who were undrafted free agents like Dodson and Del’Shawn Phillips, who was also injured in the game, playing a key role suddenly on defense.
For a defense with seemingly no holes, it may have sprung a couple of big leaks on Sunday. It bears watching what happens with the injury status of Milano and Edmunds this week.