The Buffalo Bills’ struggling defense suffered another setback in Sunday’s victory over the Miami Dolphins.
Veteran defensive end Dawuane Smoot was forced to leave the 30-27 victory with a wrist injury, and head coach Sean McDermott stated on Monday that he would require surgery and be placed on injured reserve. Though McDermott expressed optimism that Smoot would be able to return, the injury is the latest for a Bills club that has already lost numerous key players for extended periods of the season.
Duane Smoot’s Outlook Uncertain
Smoot has been a key member of the team’s defensive line rotation, starting four games and recording 1.5 sacks and 12 total tackles. Smoot also has three tackles for loss and three quarterback hits, playing 48% of the team’s defensive snaps.
McDermott stated on Monday that the team will not know the degree of Smoot’s injury until he undergoes surgery.
“Sometimes with IR and surgeries, you’re never sure until the doctors get in there and see what exactly the extent of the injury is or was,” McDermott pointed out.
The Bills have already lost starting linebacker Matt Milano to a torn pectoral muscle in training camp, and linebacker Terrel Bernard and nickel cornerback Taron Johnson will miss numerous games this season due to injury.
Rookie defensive tackle Dewayne Carter had previously been placed on injured reserve following wrist surgery. Carter started two games this season and recorded nine total tackles, including four for a loss, two quarterback hits, and one pass defensed.
McDermott said on Nov. 1 that Carter would also miss a significant portion of the season.
“He’s going to have to have surgery, so he’ll be out for several weeks,” the Bills’ head coach said on the team’s official website.
Another Setback on Offense
On Sunday, the Bills were also rocked on offense, as rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman suffered a wrist injury late in the game. Coleman received a helmet-to-helmet collision from Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer, injuring his right wrist.
Poyer was called for unnecessary roughness, which gave the Bills a crucial first down and extended their drive on third down. The Bills continued to drive into Dolphins territory, eventually grabbing the lead when kicker Tyler Bass connected on a franchise-record 61-yard field goal in the final seconds.
Coleman did not return to the game and was tested on Monday. McDermott said the team is still analyzing the severity of his injury and whether he will lose any more time.
“I will know more as the week progresses,” McDermott added. “I’m hoping for one outcome or the other, but we’ll see. “We’ll see where this goes.”
The Bills were already without recently acquired wide receiver Amari Cooper, who missed Sunday’s game due to a wrist injury.
The Bills gained some breathing room with Sunday’s victory, which improved their record to 7-2 and gave them early control of the AFC East. The Bills are four games ahead of the second-place New York Jets and might claim the division by the end of the month.
