ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Bills barely got past the opening kickoff of preseason before a key player went down with a possible injury.
Defensive tackle Ed Oliver left after the first play from scrimmage and did not return to Saturday's exhibition opener against the Bears at Highmark Stadium.
Oliver went down to one knee and received attention from trainers after the running play in which teammate Greg Rousseau was credited with making the tackle. Oliver was able to walk off the field and sat on the bench for a moment before getting checked out in the sideline medical tent. He returned to the bench with his helmet a few moments later.
Josh Allen and the rest of Buffalo's starters played about a quarter of the game. The quarterback completed 2 of 3 passes for 22 yards and had a 7-yard scramble before being replace in the middle of the Bills' second drive. Backup Mitchell Trubisky drove the Bills 45 yards for a field goal.
Two other top defenders, linebacker Matt Milano and pass rusher Von Miller, dressed in uniform but did not play for the Bills. Milano is recovering from breaking his leg last October and Miller is protecting his surgically-repaired knee that limited his effectiveness last season.
The Bills held out a number of players due to injury: Defensive linemen DaQuan Jones (groin) and Casey Toohill (groin), wide receivers Mack Hollins (leg), Chase Claypool (toe) and Justin Shorter (knee), safeties Mike Edwards (hamstring) and Cole Bishop (shoulder), linebackers Edefuan Ulofoshio (rib) and Nicholas Morrow (groing), running back Ty Johnson (hamstring), and offensive tackle Travis Clayton (shoulder).
Chicago led 6-3 at halftime in No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams' preseason debut. Williams was 4 of 7 passing for 95 yards with a 13 yard run. The Bears had a 158 to 114 yardage advantage in the first half.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.
