Buffalo's interior is thin without Ed Oliver, yet DaQuan Jones anchors the middle while TJ Sanders and Deone Walker rotate in, with Zion Logue providing depth. The trio absorbed valuable reps in Week 1 against the Jets and showed growth as Buffalo eyes Thursday Night Football on a short week.

Buffalo smothered the Jets to 154 yards, 11 first downs and 0-for-11 on third down, a testament to the young group’s progress. McDermott stressed further development, as the same rookie quartet will be leaned on again versus a run-heavy Jets attack.

Buffalo’s defense answered Week 1 doubts with a stifling showing against the Jets, holding New York to 154 total yards and 10 points. Breece Hall was bottled to 29 yards on 10 carries, while Justin Fields added just 27 rushing yards on a key scramble. The Jets’ passing game also stagnated, with Garrett Wilson limited to 50 receiving yards on four grabs.

Rookie reinforcements carried the load on Buffalo’s line: Deone Walker, TJ Sanders, Zion Logue, and DaQuan Jones stepped up with solid snaps as Ed Oliver and Taron Johnson were sidelined. Joey Bosa wrecked the pocket with two forced fumbles, a sack, six pressures, and two hits, helping Buffalo post four sacks and 23 pressures overall. Buffalo hosts Miami next, aiming to keep building defensive cohesion.

In a Week 2 reversion to form, Buffalo proved it can adapt quickly, leveraging front-seven depth and a relentless rush to stabilize after Week 1 turmoil. The matchup against the Dolphins will test whether this developing unit can sustain pressure on a high-caliber offense on a short week.

Buffalo faces a banged-up Jets defense in Week 2, relying on Josh Allen's big-play ability and a grinding run game to pull further ahead in the AFC East. Early positives include Zion Logue and Greg Rousseau stacking a sack together, Christian Benford forcing a key stop, and James Cook punching in a short TD. A Jets playmaker like Justin Fields will test the Bills, including Joey Bosa's forced fumble that Bills recovered, while Allen starts with a 40-yard burst to set the tone.

Fantasy managers should track breakout candidates and potential game-script shifts: Cook's touches, Logue's role in the pass rush, and Benford's coverage, all while monitoring health news for a defense that’s breaking in new pieces.

Buffalo Bills sit Taron Johnson in Week 2 as Tre'Davious White returns, bolstering a secondary facing a run-heavy Jets attack. Buffalo could lean into three linebackers to counter the ground game, while Ed Oliver is ruled out and Zion Logue and Keonta Jenkins prepare for season debuts via practice-squad elevations. Curtis Samuel is a healthy scratch again, with Landon Jackson and Chase Lundt inactive alongside Shaq Thompson and Jordan Hancock. Kickoff is 1 p.m. ET on CBS.

DeWayne Carter's Achilles tear ends his 2025 season before it begins, leaving Buffalo with interior-line depth questions. Carter appeared in 11 games as a rookie in 2024, delivering 14 tackles with 5 for loss and three QB hits. The Bills now face how to fill those snaps as Carter’s absence amplifies questions about their run defense and interior pressure.

Two DTs on the practice squad, Zion Logue and Jordan Phillips, could be elevated to the 53-man roster to stabilize the rotation. Expect Ed Oliver to shoulder more responsibility up the middle, while depth pieces step into situational roles. Fantasy angles center on how quickly Buffalo can sustain interior disruption against efficient inside runs and quick-hit passes.