Dealing with the Texans defense is a tough task for the healthiest of offensive lines.
Things are going to be a little tougher for the Bills on Sunday. Right tackle Erik Pears did not travel with the team to Houston and will miss Sunday’s game because of the hip and groin issues that originally left him listed as doubtful for the contest.
Chris Hairston is expected to take Pears’ place in the lineup, although Cordy Glenn could still throw a wrench into those plans. The rookie left tackle is expected to make his return from a sprained ankle on Sunday, allowing Hairston to flip over to the other side of the line in place of Pears. Glenn is listed as questionable, though, and any kind of setback would leave the team with some depth issues up front against Wade Phillips’ defense.
Defensive end J.J. Watt will be the primary blocking assignment for Hairston or anyone else who winds up at right tackle for Buffalo. That doesn’t bode well for the Bills offense, although the truth is that things wouldn’t look much better if Pears was going to be playing.