Michael Hoecht: Everything you need to know

Hoecht (Achilles) said Friday that he anticipates being ready to play by the beginning of the 2026 season, Ryan Talbot of syracuse.com reports. "Yeah, that's very much my expectation, I think it's everybody else's expectations," Hoecht said. Hoecht was suspended for the first six weeks of last season but was impactful upon his return to action, posting 2.0 sacks in two contests. However, he tore his Achilles against Kansas City in Week 9 and missed the remainder of the campaign. Hoecht mentioned Friday that he plans to be finished with his rehab from the injury July 1 -- if that's the case, he could be cleared to participate from the beginning of training camp, which starts July 23. Of course, Buffalo's training staff will have the ultimate say in when Hoecht is good to go and how rapidly he'll be allowed to ramp up. With that said, it appears the veteran defensive end's arrow is pointing up ahead of what will be his second year of the three-year contract he signed with the Bills last March.

The Bills placed Hoecht on injured reserve Monday due to a torn right Achilles which will sideline him for the rest of the 2025, season, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports. Hoecht sustained a non-contact injury during the Bills' 28-21 win over the Chiefs on Sunday, and the fifth-year defensive end was diagnosed with a torn Achilles after being evaluated by medical staff. He made his 2025 debut in Week 7 after missing the first six games of the regular season while serving a suspension, and he'll end his first campaign in Buffalo with five tackles (two solo), including 2.0 sacks. With Hoecht done for the year, the Bills will turn to Javon Solomon, A.J. Espenesa and Landon Jackson to step up in rotational roles at defensive end behind Greg Rousseau and Joey Bosa.

Hoecht (Achilles) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Chiefs. It was a non-contact injury for Hoecht, and the severity of the injury will be known once he undergoes more tests. A.J. Epenesa and Javon Solomon will see more rotational snaps at defensive end behind Joey Bosa and Greg Rousseau following Hoecht's exit from Sunday's game.