Bills Lose Linebacker Kiko Alonso to Torn ACL
Just when the Buffalo Bills appeared to be turning a corner on defense, they take a step back. According to multiple reports, the Bills will have to make do without star linebacker Kiko Alonso, who has sustained a season-ending ACL tear.
The second-year stud linebacker reportedly suffered the injury during workouts and is expected to miss the entire 2014 regular season. A beast out of Oregon, Alonso finished second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2013, after racking up a ridiculous 159 total tackles. Alonso also chipped in two sacks, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in his impressive rookie season.
A building block for a rising Buffalo defense that already was the 10th best unit a year ago, Alonso is virtually irreplaceable. Bringing the instincts and versatility that allowed Buffalo to use him as needed all over the field, Alonso was expected to be the leader of the defensive unit and help push the Bills even higher in the ranks in 2014.
That will no longer happen, as the talented linebacker becomes the second big name defensive player to be lost for the season to a knee injury. Dallas Cowboys star inside ‘backer Sean Lee was the first.
Alonso’s injury should have Buffalo looking to free agency for some veteran help to at least increase competition at linebacker, while the team should also take a close look at in-house replacement options, Nigel Bradham and Preston Brown. Previously suspected to be on the roster bubble, Bradham is arguably the more talented of the two and probably most likely to step into a role and contribute at a high level.
Even Bradham is no sure thing, though, as he’s had some off field issues and through two seasons has been unable to make a substantial impact with the team.
Brown is probably the second best option to replace Alonso in Buffalo, as he paced Louisville in tackles the past two years and comes in this year as a talented rookie with some upside. Randell Johnson was also added in the 2014 NFL Draft, but is likely third in the pecking order. Regardless, the competition should be very much wide open so the Bills can make sure they’re getting the best replacement option possible.
While the Bills do have quite a bit of talent elsewhere on defense and might have a decent fill-in option in the end, the loss of Alonso can’t be overstated. His absence is a huge hit for a defense that was hoping to become a top-five unit.
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