The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs squared off in a heated rivalry game on Sunday in Buffalo, and it didn’t disappoint as the Bills squeaked out a 28-21 victory.
The win came with some bad news for the Bills, though.
During the matchup, defensive end Michael Hoecht left the matchup after suffering a brutal non-contact lower-body injury. After medical assessment, the Bills took to X to announce that Hoecht suffered an Achilles injury, which some feared would be season-ending.
Well-known sports doctor David J. Chao, who serves as an injury expert for SiriusXM Radio and Fox Sports Radio, took to social media right away to asses the injury.
“By video, classic Achilles tendon rupture,” he said, adding that the player would need surgery and that his season was over. “Kudos to his toughness to continue play,” he added. “Happened with initial right step. He even waived off cart and stayed on sidelines.”
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Bills head coach Sean McDermott confirmed Hecht’s Achilles tear to reporters after the game.
“Bills HC Sean McDermott announced that DE Michael Hoecht did in fact tear his Achilles during today’s game vs. the Chiefs,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted.
Hoecht missed the first six games of the Bills’ season due to serving a suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. He played his first game with the Bills during last Sunday’s win over the Panthers. Against the Chiefs, he had two tackles and a half-sack of quarterback Patrick Mahomes before getting injured.
He also has five tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in his two games with the team.
Hoecht’s season-ending injury is a big hit to the Buffalo Bills’ defense.
The team is already without a handful of defensive players, including starting defensive tackles Ed Oliver, who’s lost for the rest of the season with a biceps injury, DaQuan Jones, and T.J. Sanders, who’s on injured reserve, plus safety Damar Hamlin, who’s also on injured reserve.
