The Buffalo Bills host the Kansas City Chiefs at Highmark Stadium for Week 9 of the regular season on Sunday afternoon. The Bills’ defensive line will be shorthanded this week, with three players on injured reserve, including Ed Oliver, due to a torn biceps. To make matters worse, their veteran starter has not practiced this week, a concerning development.
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Buffalo Bills rule out their 154-game starter
Buffalo Bills, DaQuan Jones
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Daquan Jones sacks New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler during first half action of the Bills home game against the New Orleans Saints in Orchard Park on Sept. 28, 2025.
DaQuan Jones has missed the previous two games after suffering a calf injury during pre-game warm-ups in Week 6. The starting defensive tackle was unable to practice this week. During Friday’s radio appearance with Sal Capaccio of WGR 550, Sean McDermott confirmed that Jones will miss his third consecutive game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott joins @SalSports with an injury update for Bills vs. Chiefs…
– DaQuan Jones is out
– Joshua Palmer is out
– Shaq Thompson is out
— WGR 550 (@WGR550) October 31, 2025
As a result, the defense must count on three defensive tackles.
Defensive tackle #1: A fourth-round pick
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Aug 23, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Deone Walker (96) looks on after a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The first player that the Bills must rely on is Deone Walker. The fourth-round pick has seen an increased role since Ed Oliver missed earlier in the season due to an ankle injury, and the team has kept him on the field as a result of his emergence. Walker has recorded 17 tackles, seven TFLs, two quarterback hits, and one sack across seven games, including six starts, and accounting for 52% of defensive snaps.
Defensive tackle #2: A free-agent signing
Buffalo Bills, Larry Ogunjobi
Aug 23, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (99) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The second player the defense must rely on is Larry Ogunjobi. The free-agent signing returned to game action in Week 8 against the Carolina Panthers following a six-game suspension for PED violations. Ogunjobi recorded three tackles and logged 48% of defensive snaps, the second most at the position last week.
Defensive tackle #3: A former 2nd-round pick
Dec 17, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (97) celebrates a play in the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Dec 17, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (97) celebrates a play in the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
The third player the team must rely on is Jordan Phillips. Since he has been elevated from the practice squad three times, the maximum number of gameday elevations, the Bills promoted him to the 53-man roster on Tuesday. So far, Phillips has four tackles, one TFL, one quarterback hit, and one sack across three games, representing 33% of defensive snaps.
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