Earlier this week, it was announced that Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller would undergo season-ending surgery.
This was certainly devastating news to the entire Bills organization and is a heartbreaking blow to their defense as a whole.
It feels impossible for the #Bills to replace Von Miller, young players will have to step up. pic.twitter.com/8XRV94VXrc
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 8, 2022
Miller has more than double the amount of quarterback pressures as the next defensive player on their team, 38, compared to 17.
The Bills will certainly need some of their young defenders to step up to the challenge of filling the Miller-sized hole left in their defense.
Who Is The Next Man Up?
When a star like Miller is hurt, it would be easy for a team to get down on themselves.
However, the Bills organization needs to identify players who will be able to rise to the occasion in Miller’s absence.
One of the key players that will need to be called on is sophomore player Gregory Rousseau.
Rousseau was selected as the 30th overall player in the 2021 NFL Draft and has made an immediate impact on the Bills defense.
So far this season, he has recorded five sacks and 25 total tackles.
Surprisingly, this 6-foot-6, 266-pound defensive end ran a 4.67 40-yard dash at last year’s combine.
The Bills will need to depend on his size, strength, and speed to continually attack opposing quarterbacks.
Besides Rousseau, the Bills also will need to rely on players like Ed Oliver, Tremaine Edmunds, and Shaq Lawson to fill in any remaining gaps.
The Bills are slated to make a deep playoff run this season, and it will be paramount for their young players to make a large impact on the defensive front.
NEXT: Von Miller Shares A Message To Bills Fans From The Hospital