The Buffalo Bills have activated DaQuan Jones from the injured reserve list after the defensive tackle missed nine games with a torn pectoral muscle which required surgery earlier in the season.
"I'm excited, put a lot of work in to get to this point and I'm just happy that my body was able to heal as quickly as it did," Jones said Friday. "I've had no issues in practice and and I pushed it pretty well in everything I did. ... I'm confidence in my ability to play at a high level."
The Bills are also signing OL Germain Ifedi back to the practice squad and releasing S Tre Norwood from the practice squad. Jones is now on the 53-man roster is expected to be active for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
"We didn't know for sure whether he'd make it back or not, and I commend him for working so diligently and then having the desire to come back and play," said head coach Sean McDermott on Friday.
Jones went down in the Bills' Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, and his return bulks up the Buffalo defensive front ahead of their Week 17 matchup against the New England Patriots. Jones had 2.5 sacks and 10 total tackles before the injury and started all five games before going down in London.
With defensive tackle Jordan Phillips undergoing surgery for a wrist injury acquired against Dallas, Jones' return will add depth to a defensive front that has been among the best in the league this season. The Bills' 50 percent win rate in the pass rush ranks fourth in the NFL. Jones' strength as a run stopper will help the Bills improve their run prevention defense, which holds the 20th-best win rate in the NFL.
As Jones is returning from a significant injury, McDermott expressed the Bills' patient approach in reintegrating the defensive tackle back into their defensive game plan.
"I think the biggest thing is managing expectations in terms of what he's able to do," McDermott said. "I think a lot of times you see a player come back and all of a sudden it's like everyone else goes, 'okay, we can relax.' We have to manage expectations with how much he's going to be able to play and what he's going to be able to do in just his first game back after [10 games]."
Scroll to see photos from the Buffalo Bills Week 17 Friday Highmark Stadium practice as the team prepares to take on the New England Patriots.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice at One Bills Drive, December 29, 2023.
