ORCHARD PARK — Ed Oliver has been lurking in the background for over a month. Occasionally he pops his head out, but he’s only been able to watch.
The Buffalo Bills defensive tackle returned to practice Tuesday for the first time since tearing his biceps against the Carolina Panthers Oct. 26. Throughout his rehabilitation, Oliver posted brief comments on social media hinting at his return, but while the Bills never ruled it out, they never provided optimism about his chances.
And then Bills coach Sean McDermott announced Dec. 31 that Oliver had a setback in his rehab to get his meniscus cleaned up on an injury sustained during training to return from the biceps.
“Everything’s good,” Oliver said with a smile. “… I’m ready to go.”
But when asked if he was going to play against the Denver Broncos in the AFC divisional round Saturday, Oliver had an even bigger smile.
“I’m excited,” he said. “But I don’t know yet.”
Returning from a torn biceps is tricky. It usually requires 4-6 months of recovery and there is still up to a 50% chance of re-injuring it. Linebacker Matt Milano suffered a torn biceps Aug. 24, 2024 and returned Nov. 30.
“The issue is the tendon is healed to the bone,” said Kyle Trimble, a physical therapist for Kaleida Health. “But how much load can that tendon take before it fails? It’s certainly less than before.”
There is optimism Oliver plays this week because after wide receivers Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers suffered torn ACLs against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Bills will have two roster spots available. They also have opened three 21-day windows to return from injured reserve.
Along with Oliver, the Bills opened the window for receiver Curtis Samuel (neck/ribs) Tuesday and they did so for safety Damar Hamlin (pectoral) last week. Samuel and Hamlin were both full participants in Tuesday’s practice, while Oliver was limited.
Plus the Bills are down to three healthy receivers and McDermott ruled out safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring) for Saturday’s game Monday.
“We base everything off the information we get from (the training staff) and then what the player is giving us,” McDermott said. “It’s never easy because everyone is going to want to play, normally, in these types of situations. … Their heart’s in it, but it’s just a matter of can they actually do it.”
Oliver was in the midst of his best NFL season, but it’s also been his most frustrating. He recorded six tackles (three for a loss), two quarterback hits, a sack and a critical fourth-quarter forced fumble in Buffalo’s Week 1 comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens.
But Oliver injured his foot in practice the following week and missed the next four games. He returned for 1 ½ games, logging six tackles (four for a loss), three quarterback hits and two sacks.
For those who aren’t quick mathematicians, that’s seven tackles for a loss, five quarterback hits and three sacks in less than three games. He already had two more TFLs than last year and tied his sack total from a disappointing follow-up campaign to a career-high 9 ½ in 2023.
While everyone is focused on his injuries and stamina — he worked the Stairmaster hard but it’s not a substitute for playing — Oliver says his body feels fresh because he didn’t have to endure an entire season of bumps and bruises.
“A lot of guys don’t feel like I feel right now,” Oliver said. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that, but I know my body can take it. I ain’t done nothing, basically, all year.”
A month after turning 28, Oliver sounded like a grizzled veteran. In his seventh NFL season, Oliver understands the urgency. Not just for this season, but for the remainder of his career.
The Bills could use Oliver’s presence, particularly in pass rush situations, considering the Bills have gotten one sack or less nine times this season. Denver quarterback Bo Nix, who had a league-high 612 passing attempts, was only sacked 23 times this season, tied for the fewest in the league.
Nix has also run for 356 yards and five touchdowns this season. And the Bills gave up the fifth-most rushing yards to quarterbacks (368) this season.
“Any way I can contribute, obviously I want to do that,” Oliver said. “This is year seven for me; obviously I don’t got too many more left. I could have five, I could have one. You never know. … I don’t even look at it as a chance, I look at it like opportunities now. I get an opportunity, take it.”