Buffalo Bills will be without 2 key defenders vs. Cowboys on Sunday
Orchard Park, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills have ruled out starting safety Micah Hyde and pass rusher A.J. Epenesa for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Hyde suffered a neck stinger and Epenesa sustained an injury to his ribs during last week’s Bills win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Bills coach Sean McDermott said on Friday that both players continue to be evaluated and he’s not able to rule out that they’ll both end up on injured reserve. McDermott said Hyde is the more likely candidate at this point but the team is still assessing the situation.
“I think we’re just continuing to take it one day at a time,” McDermott said. “And then when I get information from (head trainer) Nate (Breskhe) on both of those guys – I just know it’s a flexible situation right now.”
With Epenesa unavailable, the Bills may be forced to play Von Miller more snaps this week. The 34-year-old has played in nine games this season after returning from a torn ACL on Thanksgiving last year. He hasn’t played more than 27 snaps in a game and Epenesa has been averaging around 41 snaps per game over his last four games.
Miller showed his first signs of life against the Chiefs last week, applying pressure on Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes several times down the stretch to help the Bills defense get stops late in the game. Miller recorded two quarterback hits on Mahomes – one on a 3rd and long that forced an incompletion. The Chiefs were in the red zone and threatening to take the lead if they scored a touchdown. Miller’s play forced them to settle for a field goal.
“I thought last game … I thought he ratcheted up a step last game and it’s important this game he does the same thing. That we move in that direction,” he said. “I know the week is hard on him coming off of the game the week before, when you’re coming off of the knee, that happens. And so it’s getting him ready now for Sunday.”
With Hyde out, the Bills will likely go back to veteran safety Taylor Rapp. The former Los Angeles Rams player has started two games for the Bills this season. McDermott’s defense has used the dime defensive package more in 2023. That’s a personnel group with an extra defensive back to help the defense defend in passing situations. Cam Lewis received 11 snaps last week against the Chiefs after Hyde left the game and was the highest-graded safety (63.1) in the game for the Bills, per Pro Football Focus.
Damar Hamlin could be up as the team’s fourth safety on Sunday to play primarily on special teams. Bills cornerback Taron Johnson (ankle) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (shoulder/thumb) have been limited in practice so far this week. McDermott said both would practice in some capacity on Friday and the team will monitor their progress.
