Terrel Bernard in question for the start of the Playoffs ???

[SCBills]

I truly hope this is just coach speak and/or over-cautiousness, because if this continues.. a philosophy shift probably needs to occur with how we build this Defense. 
 

 

[VaMilBill]

Is this a practice injury? We can’t stay healthy on the back 7 ever

[krf139]

So tired of this guy being hurt. He’s a low priority re-sign for me. 

[GuardianAngel]

This doesn't sound like there's much doubt for the playoffs, more just letting him rest off a smaller injury during a meaningless game.

[SCBills]

  On 1/1/2025 at 5:35 PM, GuardianAngel said:

This doesn't sound like there's much doubt for the playoffs, more just letting him rest off a smaller injury during a meaningless game.

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This sounds more promising than how Thad Brown and Joe Buscaglia framed it, but still concerning that he’s in this position as we’re a week out from getting ready for our first playoff opponent.

 

Milano just came back off injury, Williams had an elbow he’s dealing with, now this with Bernard.. 

 

Undersized LB’s getting pummeled game in/game out due to undersized DT’s seems to be a common culprit for the issues we’ve been facing. 

[WotAGuy]

Look around the league and see the injury situations throughout the season. The Bills have nothing to complain about when you look at Detroit, San Francisco, KC, etc. 

[Goin Breakdown]

Can't say I'm surprised about an injury here. 

[SCBills]

  On 1/1/2025 at 5:40 PM, WotAGuy said:

Look around the league and see the injury situations throughout the season. The Bills have nothing to complain about when you look at Detroit, San Francisco, KC, etc. 

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Can we just, for once, hope to have KC injury luck for the Playoffs?

 

Not sure why they’re listed in your post.. they’re getting healthy as ever right now. 

Only major injury they have is Rice, who they were able to replace with Hopkins. 
 

Edited January 1 by SCBills

[JGMcD2]

  On 1/1/2025 at 5:35 PM, GuardianAngel said:

This doesn't sound like there's much doubt for the playoffs, more just letting him rest off a smaller injury during a meaningless game.

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This doesn’t worry me very much, he’ll play against Denver in 2 weeks. 

[Big Blitz]

  On 1/1/2025 at 5:42 PM, SCBills said:

 

Can we just, for once, hope to have KC injury luck for the Playoffs?

 

Not sure why they’re listed in your post.. they’re getting healthy as ever right now. 

Only major injury they have is Rice, who they were able to replace with Hopkins. 
 

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It’s why they’re going to win the whole thing again unless we beat them.  
 

Sick of hearing “everyone has injuries.”

 

Correct and those teams lose.  

[Johnnieo64]

The Bills need to draft a bigger bodied LB period. The players they have are good but are too small and keep getting hurt. Just reference what happened vs KC in the playoffs last year snd this trend is continuing. Danny Stuntsman from Oklahoma would be perfect for them. I’m actually surprised that they do as well as they do vs the run. It’s going to be a big issue in the playoffs. Anyway just my opinion. Go Bills!!!!!

[WotAGuy]

  On 1/1/2025 at 5:42 PM, SCBills said:

 

Can we just, for once, hope to have KC injury luck for the Playoffs?

 

Not sure why they’re listed in your post.. they’re getting healthy as ever right now. 

Only major injury they have is Rice, who they were able to replace with Hopkins. 
 

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I listed KC because they had a lot of key player injuries throughout the year. 
 

The point is injuries happen to many teams at inopportune times and I don’t think the Bills are an anomaly in that regard. 

[SCBills]

  On 1/1/2025 at 5:50 PM, Johnnieo64 said:

The Bills need to draft a bigger bodied LB period. The players they have are good but are too small and keep getting hurt. Just reference what happened vs KC in the playoffs last year snd this trend is continuing. Danny Stuntsman from Oklahoma would be perfect for them. I’m actually surprised that they do as well as they do vs the run. It’s going to be a big issue in the playoffs. Anyway just my opinion. Go Bills!!!!!

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I’m not opposed to drafting athletic undersized LB’s in Rounds 3-5 like they have, but that seems to be far more logical on a team that prioritizes big DT’s.. not a team that also wants quick, undersized gap shooting / pass rushing DT’s. 

[GuardianAngel]

  On 1/1/2025 at 5:39 PM, SCBills said:

This sounds more promising than how Thad Brown and Joe Buscaglia framed it, but still concerning that he’s in this position as we’re a week out from getting ready for our first playoff opponent.

 

Milano just came back off injury, Williams had an elbow he’s dealing with, now this with Bernard.. 

 

Undersized LB’s getting pummeled game in/game out due to undersized DT’s seems to be a common culprit for the issues we’ve been facing. 

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Yeah I didn't like the way Thad was framing it, he makes it sound like it's a scary question mark when we were probably resting Bernard this week anyways. Also you can't forget poor Baylon Spector, man just can't stay healthy.

As to your point of undersized lb/dts, at this point I'd have to agree, though it's pointless getting into those weeds until post season at least to me. I do think that this specific instance of injury is mostly a nothing burger. Though now that I said that it won't be, so if that does come to pass I'll take the pie to the face.

[BearNorth]

I think this will give Buffalo Joe more snaps this week in case he has to play defense in the playoffs.  I like that he's a "bigger" linebacker.

[Bigvinny]

  On 1/1/2025 at 5:50 PM, Johnnieo64 said:

The Bills need to draft a bigger bodied LB period. The players they have are good but are too small and keep getting hurt. Just reference what happened vs KC in the playoffs last year snd this trend is continuing. Danny Stuntsman from Oklahoma would be perfect for them. I’m actually surprised that they do as well as they do vs the run. It’s going to be a big issue in the playoffs. Anyway just my opinion. Go Bills!!!!!

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Like Tremaine Edmunds ?

[Simon]

  On 1/1/2025 at 5:39 PM, SCBills said:

Undersized LB’s getting pummeled game in/game out due to undersized DT’s seems to be a common culprit for the issues we’ve been facing. 

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Yeah, we should resign Tremaine Edmunds as soon as we can.

That's the kind of guy you can rely on.

 

  On 1/1/2025 at 5:53 PM, Bigvinny said:

Like Tremaine Edmunds ?

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Beat me by 30 seconds 

[billsbackto81]

I swear this guy better spend his entire day, everyday in the treatment areas until the playoffs.

[Mikie2times]

  On 1/1/2025 at 5:49 PM, Big Blitz said:

 

It’s why they’re going to win the whole thing again unless we beat them.  
 

Sick of hearing “everyone has injuries.”

 

Correct and those teams lose.  

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This post could have been better if it was healthy 

[SCBills]

  On 1/1/2025 at 5:54 PM, Simon said:

 

Yeah, we should resign Tremaine Edmunds as soon as we can.

That's the kind of guy you can rely on.

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Ok, anyway..  

 

This doesn’t address the fact we have to hope we can get through the playoffs keeping Bernard, Milano and Williams healthy behind an undersized DT room. 
 

I hope they can. 
 

And if you look in the post above yours, you’ll see I’m not opposed to undersized, quick linebackers but to do so in conjunction with undersized gap shooting DT’s has given us enough evidence that injuries will always be a concern with this philosophy.

 

Unless we bring back Ankou, these guys are playing behind Jones, Oliver, Phillips, Carter and/or Jefferson.   Thats the bigger concern.   Denver OL getting to the second level forcing them to shed blocks and make tackles on RB’s 3-4 yards past the LOS.