The Buffalo Bills’ defense suffered another setback in their 30-27 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
Veteran defensive tackle Dawuane Smoot had to leave the game due to a wrist injury, and head coach Sean McDermott confirmed on Monday that Smoot will require surgery and be placed on injured reserve. While McDermott expressed some hope that Smoot could return later in the season, the injury adds to the growing list of setbacks for a Bills team that has already seen several key players sidelined for extended periods. Smoot had been a crucial part of the defensive line rotation, starting four games, recording 1.5 sacks, 12 tackles, three tackles for a loss, and three quarterback hits, while playing in 48% of the team’s defensive snaps.
McDermott indicated that the full extent of Smoot’s injury won’t be clear until after surgery. “Sometimes with IR and surgeries, you’re never sure until the doctors get in there and see exactly how bad the injury is,” McDermott said.
The Bills had already lost star linebacker Matt Milano to a torn pectoral muscle during training camp, while linebacker Terrel Bernard and nickel cornerback Taron Johnson have both missed time this season due to injuries. Rookie defensive tackle Dewayne Carter, who had been starting, was placed on injured reserve after wrist surgery. Carter had started two games, recording nine tackles, including four tackles for a loss, two quarterback hits, and one pass deflection. McDermott had already confirmed on Nov. 1 that Carter would miss an extended period.
“He’s going to have to undergo surgery, so he’ll be out for multiple weeks,” McDermott said at the time.
The Bills were also hit on the offensive side in Sunday’s win, as rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman suffered a wrist injury after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer. Poyer was penalized for unnecessary roughness, extending the Bills’ drive, which culminated in a franchise-record 61-yard field goal by kicker Tyler Bass to take the lead for good. Coleman did not return to the game and underwent testing on Monday. McDermott said the team is still assessing the injury’s severity and whether Coleman will miss additional time.
“I’ll know more as we move through the week,” McDermott said. “Just holding out hope one way or the other, but we’ll see how it goes.”
The Bills were also missing newly acquired wide receiver Amari Cooper, who sat out Sunday’s game with a wrist injury.
Despite these injuries, the Bills’ win against the Dolphins lifted them to a 7-2 record and gave them a commanding lead in the AFC East, with a four-game advantage over the second-place New York Jets. The team could potentially clinch the division before the month is over.
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