ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 08: Cody Ford #70 of the Buffalo Bills (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
Buffalo Bills right tackle Cody Ford has played his last snap of football in 2020.
The Buffalo Bills will have their hands full against the Los Angeles Chargers next week, as they will have to contend with sensational rookie Justin Herbert and a ferocious pass rush. Quelling the latter might be even more difficult next week, as right tackle Cody Ford’s injury will sideline him for the remainder of the season.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott has confirmed that Ford will undergo surgery on a torn meniscus that will end his 2020 season prematurely. With wide receiver John Brown also out against LA, McDermott will have quite the challenge ahead of him with regards to potentially pulling out a win.
Cody Ford has become one of the game’s best right tackles
Ford was originally picked in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft with the expectation that he would eventually be moved over to guard. However, following an injury to starter Ty Nsheke, Ford jumped in at right tackle, and he produced exemplary results.
Ford, who hasn’t played in several weeks, will have to be replaced by Daryl Williams, an inconsistent pass protector that McDermott helped bring to Buffalo due to the pair’s history with the Carolina Panthers. While Ford isn’t exactly Jackie Slater on the right side just yet, he is certainly a cut above Williams, and that drop-off could make life tough for Josh Allen and a struggling Buffalo running game.
While Buffalo is still expected to run away with the AFC East given the lack of truly elite talent in that division outside of Orchard Park, it is inarguable that losing Ford for the season is a crushing blow. Hopefully, Williams is up to the task of stopping the tsunami of elite pass rushers the Bills will have to face in the postseason.