The Buffalo Bills sit 6-2 and in the upper tier of the AFC as they head to Hard Rock Stadium to play the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, coming off a 28-21 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
In that Chiefs game, Bills quarterback Josh Allen completed 23 of 26 passes for 273 passing yards, one passing touchdown, two rushing touchdowns, and zero interceptions, while the defense made key stops late to extend Buffalo’s winning streak.
Unfortunately, it now appears that the team won’t have two of its most impactful defenders for Sunday’s contest in Miami.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott told WGR550 on Friday that defensive end A.J. Epenesa (concussion) and veteran linebacker Shaq Thompson (hamstring) have both been ruled out for the Dolphins game.
Drafted out of Iowa in the second round (No. 54 overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft by Buffalo, Epenesa has served as a rotational edge presence over the last five seasons, flashing pass-rush upside while regularly contributing vs. the run.
This season, he's appeared in eight games and compiled 15 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and one fumble recovery, with one interception on the year.
Thompson, meanwhile, is a 2015 first-round pick (No. 25 overall) who spent a decade with the Carolina Panthers before signing with Buffalo in June 2025 to add veteran versatility in the linebacker room.
Across six appearances this season, he's totaled 28 combined tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss, and one forced fumble, showing the coverage and tackling traits that made him a longtime pro starter when healthy.
Missing Epenesa robs the Bills of an edge rotation piece who can provide situational pressure; losing Thompson forces schematic and personnel tinkering at linebacker - an area where versatility matters against Miami's offensive motion and strong run game.
Thankfully for the Bills, it appears that star RB James Cook's ankle injury is behind him, as McDermott revealed that he “should be good to go” for Sunday, providing a much-needed boost to an offense that will now face added pressure to sustain drives.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, enter the matchup struggling at 2-7 and facing organizational turbulence as questions around QB Tua Tagovailoa and head coach Mike McDaniel continue to swirl.
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