The Bills secured their second preseason win on Saturday, defeating the Cleveland Browns 31-7. However, that win wasn’t the biggest news for Buffalo that afternoon.
Right before kickoff, ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe and Alaina Getzenberg reported that Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver’s 2-year-old son died on June 28 after he was found unresponsive in a swimming pool.
“On June 28, Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an in-progress life-in-danger call. Upon arrival, deputies were told that the parents of a boy had found him unresponsive in the swimming pool at the home, according to the sheriff’s office,” Wolfe and Getzenberg wrote. The child was taken by ambulance to a Houston hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:18 p.m.”
Joe Brady Has Full Support For Oliver
Bills head coach Joe Brady told reporters after the game that he is there for Oliver and will do whatever he needs to do.
“I’m a parent, and ever since I found out the news, it’s hard to fathom what he’s going through,” Brady said, via Spectrum News 1 Andy Young. “There are really no words to describe those moments. As a coach and a father, my job is to be what he needs from me right now: to love him and give him the privacy he deserves.”
Oliver is going through a lot right now, but he has been with the team through this difficult time. He is not on the field currently and wasn’t with the Bills in Cleveland for the preseason game since he is nursing a minor injury.
Brandon Beane Published a Statement Saturday
Brady wasn’t the only member of the Bills organization to send a heartfelt message to Oliver and his family. The president of football operations and general manager, Brandon Beane, published a statement right before the game against Cleveland, expressing his condolences to Oliver and his family.
“On behalf of the entire Buffalo Bills organization, we want to publicly express our condolences to Ed Oliver and his family on the devastating loss of his son. We will continue to support Ed and his family as we all grieve this tragic loss,” Beane wrote.
Oliver is facing an incredibly tough time, grappling with the heartbreaking loss of his son and dealing with an injury. However, it’s heartening to see the Bills standing firmly by his side during this challenging time.
There is no timetable for when Oliver will return to the field, but it would be nice to see him back in action in the next few weeks. Oliver only appeared in three games last season due to a biceps injury, and he also suffered an ankle injury along the way.
When Oliver is on the field, he’s one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. Hopefully, he will be able to get through his minor injury and return to playing. Often, when someone goes through something so tragic, simply being back with teammates and doing what they love can help a lot. Oliver’s return to playing football could greatly benefit him.
Bills HC Joe Brady Opens Up Over Tragic Death of Ed Oliver’s 2-Year-Old Son