Ed Oliver
Michael Reaves/Getty
MIAMI, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 17: Ed Oliver #91 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after a sack against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
“Just waiting on my opportunity, you know? Whenever my number’s called, I’m gonna be out there ready. I feel like I had a great week of practice to prepare for the Jets.”
Those are the confident words of Buffalo Bills second-round rookie defensive tackle T.J. Sanders on Friday. With star DT Ed Oliver ruled out for the Bills’ Week 2 matchup against the division-rival Jets, Sanders will be relied upon in a big role in the middle of that defense — potentially as a starter.
“Oh they were extremely important,” Sanders said on the 16 snaps he received for the Bills in Week 1. “In this league, and in football in general, the first thing I learned when I got into the game was everything comes with reps and experience. So just getting out there, getting my feet wet, just doing what I could in those limited reps, I feel like it’s going to help me in the long run.”
Buffalo Bills DT T.J. Sanders on What He Learned From Week 1 and How He’s Approaching Week 2
T.J. Sanders
Johnny Izquierdo/GettyNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 09: T.J. Sanders #90 and Dylan Stewart #6 of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrate after a play during the second half of the game between Vanderbilt and South Carolina at FirstBank Stadium on November 09, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
“Just being more consistent with things like my charge or the way I’m getting off the ball,” Sanders said on what he learned from the Ravens game. “Just keeping those the same, because whenever I get away from it I look bad, whenever I’m playing faster I look good. So I think that’s the main thing I took from it.”
“Yeah we know those guys, they ran the ball about 40 times last week, so it’s going to be a big part of their game coming into this week,” said Sanders on the Jets offense. “They put up 32 points, so they feel like they had success with it, and coming against us they probably watched the game last week and feel like they can have success against us as well. So just coming into the game with our hard hats on and knowing what type of game it’s gonna be.”
“I think you just approach it with the same mindset,” Sanders said on how his preparation differs this week knowing he’s likely to be the starter. “You know, coming out here, playing your best, putting your best foot forward, and just take everything you’ve done throughout the week and put it on display in the game.”
Buffalo Bills DT Ed Oliver Was a Star in Week 1
Losing Oliver hurts the Bills in a big way this weekend against New York. He was the best player on defense for Buffalo and their best player period not named Josh Allen. He was disruptive as a pass rusher and disciplined in run defense, totaling six tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in Buffalo’s season opener.
Oliver had the play of the game on that forced fumble, stripping Ravens RB Derrick Henry of the ball late in the fourth quarter to spark the Bills’ comeback. It’s no exaggeration to say Buffalo would not have won that game without Oliver on the field, and he’s a huge loss for them this week.
But Sanders is ready for this, and he’s a great player in his own right who’s ready to step up and handle the responsibility in the middle of the Bills defense.