Buffalo Rumblings
When the Buffalo Bills return to the field this week, they’ll likely have two new faces rotating in along the defensive line. Defensive end Michael Hoecht and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, each of whom signed with Buffalo as free agents in March, are set to return from suspension this week now that their six-game bans for performance-enhancing drug use has expired.
Hoecht, in particular, looked to be a strong signing, and his work in the preseason was notable. In Buffalo’s disastrous loss to the Chicago Bears back in August, Hoecht was one of the few bright spots. The veteran totaled four tackles and a sack in the game, earning a Pro Football Focus grade of 76.1 for the effort. That was Buffalo’s top grade that week on defense. He totaled five tackles, one sack, and a pass breakup in the preseason, which is the only time he’s been able to play with the Bills as of yet.
In his time with the Los Angeles Rams, Hoecht was a valuable contributor in a multitude of ways. He played defensive end, defensive tackle, and even off-ball linebacker at times for the Rams, totaling 13.5 sacks, 180 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 26 quarterback hits over 68 regular-season games.
The Bills feel he has some untapped potential as a pass rusher, but his work setting the edge and defending the run will be a welcome addition to a unit that currently ranks 30th overall in rushing yards allowed and dead last in the NFL in yards per carry allowed. Hoecht just turned 28 earlier this month, and he’s under contract with the Bills through the 2027 season.
Ogunjobi, 31, signed a one-year deal with the Bills, and the plan was likely to have him serve as Ed Oliver’s top backup. However, thanks to the PED suspension, the Bills have used a pair of rookies in T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker, as well as a revolving door of practice-squad call-ups that includes Jordan Phillips, Zion Logue, and Phidarian Mathis at defensive tackle. Oliver was even out for four games with an ankle injury. With Sanders on Injured Reserve (IR) thanks to a knee injury and veteran DaQuan Jones suffering a calf injury last week, Ogunjobi will likely see plenty of run this week.
Ogunjobi is more of a three-tech defender than he is a one-tech run-stuffer, so I’d expect the Bills to start Oliver, who has been fantastic in the two games he’s played, and Walker, who has outperformed his fourth-round draft status, while Sanders recovers. Unless the Bills decide to sign another defensive tackle to the 53-man roster, they’ll continue to use practice-squad players to fill in the reserve spots, but Ogunjobi should see at least a 30% snap share, if not more, this week.
Before coming to Buffalo, Ogunjobi had exclusively played in the AFC North, starting his career with the Cleveland Browns before moving to the Cincinnati Bengals for one season. He played the last three years with the...
