After defeating the New England Patriots, the Buffalo Bills will remain in their division for the rest of the regular season, starting with a home game against the New York Jets and Aaron Rodgers this weekend.
For Buffalo, things are looking up in terms of injury recovery, as the Jets’ highly regarded rookie offensive lineman, Olu Fashanu, is expected to be out for the remainder of the season.
Olu Fashanu’s rookie season ends prematurely, as the highly touted offensive tackle, who started seven games, was sidelined by injury last weekend. Despite the setback, Fashanu had only allowed one sack this season, even though he’s been protecting the blind side of a quarterback not known for his mobility.
That quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, has high praise for the rookie. “Well, I think the kids are ready to play these days, a lot earlier,” Rodgers said when discussing Fashanu. “I think he was ready to play. He was working as a swing guy, and then he played some guard, which was totally out of character. But all along, and like I said in training camp, I think he’s a 10-year, decade-plus, type of left tackle.”
Such remarks from Rodgers are a significant endorsement from a future Hall of Famer.
With Fashanu out, Max Mitchell stepped in at left tackle, despite being the Jets’ third-string option. While the rest of the offensive line has been performing decently, losing Fashanu and relying on Mitchell could create a vulnerability for the Jets, particularly in terms of pass protection.
Buffalo’s defensive coordinator, Bobby Babich, will likely target Rodgers’ blind side in their upcoming game. Whether through the defensive line or designed blitzes like the ones used against the Patriots, Babich will likely look to exploit the left tackle position. Greg Rousseau, a key pass rusher who often lines up on the left side, could be poised to take advantage of this weakened spot on the offensive line.
