The Buffalo Bills have two of their free agents suspended for the first third of the season, but will be reinstated at the perfect time.
The 2025 schedule release was very kind to the Buffalo Bills. Not only do the defending AFC East champions have the ninth easiest schedule in the league, they also have an underrated benefit to their stretch as well.
During the offseason, the Bills signed defensive linemen in Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi to boost their run defense. Almost immediately after signing those deals, though, both players were given six-game suspensions by the league for violating the PED policy.
Losing two key additions for the first six games is never easy. Buffalo's schedule makes things a bit more cushy, though.
"A potentially more significant benefit has to do with a couple of players new to the roster in 2025," Buffalo Rumblings explained. "The Bills signed a pair of free agents in defensive lineman Michael Hoecht and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi — and both will miss the first six weeks of action while serving suspensions for failed PED tests.
"With a bye in Week 7, it will allow Hoecht and Ogunjobi to get re-acclimated to practice and hopefully back up to the playing speed they’ll have developed during training camp and preseason action. It’s a silver lining for a pair of tarnished signings by general manager Brandon Beane."
Ogunjobi and Hoecht cannot practice with the team while they are suspended. The fact the Bills have a bye week after both players are reinstated is massive.
It shows there might be a path to both being immediate contributors when they are reinstated by the league. It's another example of how advantageous their schedule continues to be for Buffalo.
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