'A Journey!' Buffalo Bills Coach Sean McDermott Talks DaQuan Jones' Week 17 Return
The Buffalo Bills have been hampered by injuries to its best defensive players since its trip to London. Losing linebacker Matt Milano and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones a week after cornerback Tre’Davious White went down with an Achilles tear played a significant role in Buffalo’s inconsistencies, even if the offense got the blame.
Jones, after initially being expected to miss the season, has found his way back to the Bills. He’s slated to return on Sunday when Buffalo hosts the New England Patriots in a must-win game for a chance at an AFC East title.
Before practice on Friday, Sean McDermott spoke about the veteran defensive tackle’s return.
Sep 17, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Las Vegas Raiders guard Greg Van Roten (70) blocks Buffalo Bills defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (92) for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) in the second quarter at Highmark Stadium.
© Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
“The transition, or progression if you will, of getting himself ready to go, it's been a journey for him to come back. I didn’t know, we didn’t know for sure whether he’d make it back or not,” McDermott said. “I commend him for working so diligently and then having the desire to come back, that doesn’t always happen around the league. So I think that says a lot about who he is and what he thinks of this team and his teammates.”
If he’s up to speed, he’ll likely be a game-changer for Buffalo. He was playing at an All-Pro level before a pectoral injury stunted his season.
He’s the Bills’ highest-graded defender by Pro Football Focus, notching a 90.2 defense grade, and he has the production to match. In the five games he appeared in, he logged 2.5 sacks, 10 tackles, and the highest pass-rush win rate of any defensive tackle.
Few, if any, were playing better than Jones at the time of his injury, though McDermott was quick to temper expectations.
“The biggest thing is managing expectations in terms of what he’s able to do … With how much he’s going to be able to do just in his first game back,” McDermott said.
If his return is anything like edge rusher Von Miller, who is yet to record a sack this season, Buffalo will still lack star-level play in the trenches. However, exceeding expectations the way he already has seems to have invigorated a unit that already had everything to play for.
It is not yet clear just how much he’ll play or how healthy he’ll look, but Jones was a certifiable difference-maker. Having him back for a playoff push raises the ceiling of a defense that has stepped up significantly during this three-game win streak.
