A.J.

Epenesa

Epenesa went down with the ankle issue in the first half and was listed as questionable. He was then ruled out at halftime. He has 3.5 sacks, three TFLs, and a forced fumble this year. Epenesa was spotted in a walking boot after the game. Shaq Lawson took most of Epenesa’s snaps.

The Bills also activated WR Gabriel Davis, OL Jon Feliciano, and DE A.J. Epenesa. The NFL recently updated its COVID protocols in accordance with new CDC guidelines, shortening the 10-day isolation period to five days for both vaccinated and unvaccinated players. That change took effect immediately and applies to players who previously tested positive. Beasley becomes one of the first beneficiaries of the updated policy. He will be able to participate in team activities and should be expected to play against the Falcons. It’s possible that he sees a reduced role after Isaiah McKenzie added a spark to the Bills’ offense against the Patriots. Beasley looks like a low-floor, volume-based WR4 in Week 17.

The Bills are without a handful of defensive players this week including multiple players from their secondary. Hyde has started in every game for Buffalo this year and Norman logged back-to-back starts in Weeks 5 and 6. The losses should help Cam Newton bounce back after getting benched for Jarrett Stidham last week. He projects as a high-upside QB2 because of his rushing ability.

The team also inked rookie backup Jake Fromm to a four-year deal. A former five-star recruit who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as a true junior, Epenesa (6’5/275) lacks an explosive first step on tape but buoyed his physicality and heavy hands into high-end production at the collegiate level, finishing his career as the first Hawkeye with back-to-back seasons of double-digit sacks since Matt Roth (2003-04). As The Athletic’s Dane Brugler notes, Epenesa actually averaged less than 50 percent of Iowa’s snaps in his first two years before becoming a full-time starter (90.1%) in 2019. Unfortunately, his sluggish 18th-percentile Adjusted SPARQ athleticism coupled with an unimpressive 40 (5.04) and median 32.5-inch vertical (63rd-percentile) means his team fit will be crucial in ensuring his impact as an EDGE rusher to begin his career. Don’t be surprised if he’s kicked inside if struggling out the gates. Even so, his upside remains that of a double-digit sack artist and Pro-Bowler.

A former five-star recruit who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as a true junior, Epenesa (6’5/275) lacks an explosive first step on tape but buoyed his physicality and heavy hands into high-end production at the collegiate level, finishing his career as the first Hawkeye with back-to-back seasons of double-digit sacks since Matt Roth (2003-04). As The Athletic’s Dane Brugler notes, Epenesa actually averaged less than 50 percent of Iowa’s snaps in his first two years before becoming a full-time starter (90.1%) in 2019. Unfortunately, his sluggish 18th-percentile Adjusted SPARQ athleticism coupled with an unimpressive 40 (5.04) and median 32.5-inch vertical (63rd-percentile) means his team fit will be crucial in ensuring his impact as an EDGE rusher to begin his career. Don’t be surprised if he’s kicked inside if struggling out the gates. Even so, his upside remains that of a double-digit sack artist and Pro-Bowler.