Bills claim AJ Klein off of waivers

[Cntrygal]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We’ve claimed LB A.J. Klein off waivers and placed WR Jake Kumerow on Injured Reserve.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoBills?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoBills</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BillsMafia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BillsMafia</a> <a href="https://t.co/DBUctdiCjw">pic.twitter.com/DBUctdiCjw</a></p>&mdash; Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills/status/1593363352616509440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Woodman]

Excellent!

[Saratoga Slim]

Love that. There was a drop off when Edmunds left the game Sunday. AJ Klein is a step above Dodson. Should be able to slot right in

[Woodman]

Love his hustle welcome back A.J.

[YardRat]

I like AJ as depth, but it sucks to lose Kumerow to IR.

[Woodman]

I like AJ as depth, but it sucks to lose Kumerow to IR.

Excellent on special teams and occasionally contributes on the offense.

He'll be missed.

[DraftBoy]

So we’re just running it back with re-treads like Marlowe and Klein?

I guess it’s something.

[notacon]

Good move (at the right price).

There was a very notable drop off when Edmunds left at half time against Minny. Klein is just better than Dodson AND Bernard.

It helped to cost us the game.

Joe B. nails it with his “All-22 Film Review” (https://theathletic.com/3904883/2022/11/16/bills-all-22-review-vikings/)....




4. The Edmunds departure was even more notable on film

One of the primary observations we had after the game was how much the Bills missed starting middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/tremaine-edmunds-JKo3MELPaAeeJbLo/) in run defending. It was especially apparent in real time after Dalvin Cook (https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/dalvin-cook-Q99hlGEYxo2NCWBY/)’s 81-yard touchdown run. But the degree in which they missed him both as a run defender and in pass coverage stood out a great deal after watching the All-22. The drop-off from Edmunds to his backup Tyrel Dodson (https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/tyrel-dodson-ZxgTwYMjUwbrPqXE/) in pass coverage was an extreme one. In the first half, Edmunds was routinely reading the keys of Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/kirk-cousins-iPIYwkTzxrquSQo2/), which sometimes triggered him to turn his back and go find the defender to break up an oncoming pass. His reaction time, speed, and length were all plus attributes of that first half and a big part of how the Bills bottled up the Vikings so successfully through 30 minutes. With Dodson, his reactions just seemed a quarter of a second later than Edmunds, leading to multiple opportunities in the middle of the field on some clutch third-down chances. He also lost his assignment on a man-to-man coverage rep that led to another easy Vikings first down.

Edmunds’ overall importance to the defense has proved more significant than ever this year, and much has to do without the Bills’ usual safety duo of Micah Hyde (https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/micah-hyde-7DnZPlHovUhDbMKa/) and Jordan Poyer (https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/jordan-poyer-WpZKWArS36a5jGeu/) being in the lineup. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier called Edmunds one of the team’s “best players,” underscoring how important they view him within their scheme. Edmunds is of course, a free agent at the end of the season, and opinions outside the building on him are split. But especially if the Bills are planning for life without Hyde or Poyer, or both, in the next two seasons, they might not want to start over at the middle linebacker position as well. Edmunds’ strong play this season and how he’s impacted the opponent’s passing attack adds another layer to an already complicated offseason question.

[Woodman]

He know's the system nice pickup.

[sukie]

Edmunds had a good first half playing scarecrow in the middle against the pass. I saw a pass defended and a tipped ball which might also be a pass defended.

didn’t see his value in the run D unless there is an analytic for off the ball LBs against the run.

his presence in first half pass defense was one of his best.

[Cntrygal]

So we’re just running it back with re-treads like Marlowe and Klein?

I guess it’s something.

Maybe it won't take 4-6 weeks to get them on the field???

[kgun12]

Edmunds had a good first half playing scarecrow in the middle against the pass. I saw a pass defended and a tipped ball which might also be a pass defended.

didn’t see his value in the run D unless there is an analytic for off the ball LBs against the run.

his presence in first half pass defense was one of his best.

Fair assessment.

[Cntrygal]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">McDermott: We were able to get LB AJ Klein into town and get materials in his hands before the weather hit. Haven&#39;t seen him yet, but we&#39;ll see how he does today &amp; decide what his status is for Sunday. (<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bills?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bills</a> declared Edmunds out, so vet like Klein would be valuable to have Sun)</p>&mdash; Chris Brown (@ChrisBrownBills) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBrownBills/status/1593627808852500487?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[OpIv37]

Makes me wonder if Edmunds and/or Milano are hurt.

[Cntrygal]

Makes me wonder if Edmunds and/or Milano are hurt.

Edmunds has already been ruled out (groin).

[swiper]

Getting AJ Klein back...

Like dating an old girlfriend.

At least she's prettier than Edmunds.

[Woodman]

Will we see Klein Thursday?