The Buffalo Bills lost one of their top defensive players a couple hours before their first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium even started.
Defensive tackle Ed Oliver suffered a hip injury during pregame warmups and was ruled out for Thursday night's game against the Detroit Lions.
Oliver was not listed on Buffalo's injury report during the short week leading into the game.
Buffalo will be thin on the defensive line against Detroit. T.J. Sanders is also inactive. That leaves DeWayne Carter, Deone Walker, Landon Jackson and Greg Gaines as the four listed defensive linemen.
The injury is another setback for Oliver after he missed most of last season.
Oliver played only three regular-season games in 2025. He initially missed four games because
of an ankle injury suffered in practice after Buffalo's season opener, then tore his biceps against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 26 and underwent surgery.
Oliver had three sacks in his three appearances last season.
The 28-year-old returned to the middle of Buffalo's defensive line for Sunday's season opener against the Houston Texans and made an immediate impact. Oliver finished with five tackles, including one tackle for loss, and recovered a fumble in Buffalo's 36-31 victory.
Oliver has spent his entire eight-year NFL career with the Bills since Buffalo selected him with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He entered Thursday with 248 tackles and 30 sacks in 96 career regular-season games.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Ed Oliver injury update: Why Buffalo Bills starting defensive lineman is out vs. Lions
