As it turns out, that replacement may have been on their roster all along.
With Oliver struggling to make his mark at the NFL level, it’s Jordan Phillips who has become an unmistakable presence at defensive tackle for the Bills. The 27-year-old led all interior linemen in sacks through Week 9 with six, making quite the name for himself in the process.
“He’s doing some good things for us, for sure,” defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. “He’s bringing a lot of energy to the table and making some splash plays for us that really make a difference.”
Phillips officially moved into the starting lineup in Week 8, replacing Oliver in a 24-9 win over Washington. The move had been a long time coming. The 6-foot-6, 341-pound lineman has continually impressed with his combination of size, power and speed, along with his tenacity in bursting through the middle of the line.
“Jordan is one of those rare guys who you don’t see very often — just a giant who can move,” said fellow defensive tackle Star Lotulelei. “You’ve seen him run. He can run. He’s putting it all to good work this year.”
It’s never been a question of talent for Phillips. He was considered a five-star recruit by Scout.com out of high school, going on to become a standout at Oklahoma. He entered the NFL as a second-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2015 (52nd overall). It was just a matter of finding the right fit, where Phillips could harness that talent and become the player he was meant to be.
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Denne historien er fra December 1, 2019-utgaven av Bills Digest.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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TRACKING TRAINING CAMP
Bills Digest was there for all the big moments at training camp. Here are some observations …
‘We're constantly trying to evolve'
For more on what’s happening within Buffalo’s offense, here are some highlights from offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s recent press conferences.
‘On the field you must flip that switch'
Here are some highlights from head coach Sean McDermott’s recent press conferences.
ALLEN GETS HISTORIC DEAL
Bills QB now under contract through 2028
Right back in the swing of things
It’s fair to say that this year’s Bills training camp looks wildly different from those of the past.
1st & Ten with STEFON DIGGS
Stefon Diggs had one of the best seasons ever by a Bills receiver in 2020, and he’s looking for an encore. Diggs was clearly amped up and ready to go as the Bills began their preparations for the new season, leading the huddle and supporting his teammates as they kicked off training camp in Orchard Park. Diggs recently touched on his goals for the upcoming season for both himself and the team in an informative discussion with members of the media. Here are the highlights from that discussion.
RUNNING BACKS: TOP AVAILABLE FREE AGENTS
Aaron Jones, Packers 5-9 • 208 pounds • 27 years old A fifth-round steal in the 2017 draft out of UTEP, Jones is equally proficient in the running and passing games. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards the last two years, and caught 49 and 47 passes, respectively. He’s also a touchdown machine with 30 TDs the last two years (25 rushing and 5 receiving). The son of two career Army officers, he’s a tough, driven player and the kind of guy players want on their team.
THE RIGHT STUFF?
Keeping two important starters is a priority as the right side of the O-line hits free agency
QUARTERBACKS: TOP AVAILABLE FREE AGENTS
Dak Prescott, Cowboys 6-2 • 235 pounds • 27 years old A solid starter who has a nice TD-INT ratio over his first five seasons (104-40), Prescott is an accurate thrower and very mobile. However, he’s coming off a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle, so it remains to be seen if this will impact his game moving forward.
TIGHT ENDS: TOP AVAILABLE FREE AGENTS
Hunter Henry, Chargers 6-5 • 250 pounds • 29 years old A very talented player, Henry has had issues staying healthy, unable to complete an NFL season, including missing the entire 2018 season with a torn ACL. But when healthy, he’s a terrific all-around tight end who really connected with Justin Herbert in 2020 with 60 catches. Henry is very good at finding holes in zone coverage.
