ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Bills’ defense is banged up. What else is new?A few things, actually.The significant contributions made by cornerback Rasul Douglas and defensive tackle Linval Joseph a mere three weeks following their arrival havent gone unnoticed.Its pretty remarkable to be honest, safety Micah Hyde said, referring to Douglas, who had two interceptions and recovered a fumble in a on Sunday. Midseason, coming in and learning the playbook and being able to go out there and not just know what hes doing, but to play fast is pretty impre sive.ADVERTISEMENT And then theres the 35-year-old Joseph, who has combined to play 79 snaps to stabilize the middle of Buffalos defensive front.Its huge. Its huge, Hyde said. For them to come in and step in and give us a little boost, a little energy is cool Johnny Pesky Jersey .Its a boost the Bills (6-5) certainly needed after adding the veterans over a two-day span to reinforce a defense mi sing three starters.Rasul, a seventh-year player, was acquired from Green Bay on Oct. 31 to shore up a secondary that lost TreDavious White (torn Achilles tendon) in Dustin Pedroia Jersey Week 4. to bulk up a line mi sing DaQuan Jones, who tore his pectoral muscle in Week 5. Buffalo lost linebacker Matt Milano to a season-ending right leg injury in the same game.Rasul and Joseph were rushed into action, helping the defense remain competitive.Buffalo still ranks 10th in the NFL in yards allowed, down from sixth through four games. And the defense has dropped just two spots since to rank fourth in points allowed. The Bills will face the NFL-leading Philadelphia Eagles (9-1) on Sunday.The leadership they add to our room in addition to them on the field as players, I would say overall … everybody has upped their game, and thats what we need moving forward, coach Sean McDermott said of a defense that could be further depleted this weekend.Cornerbacks Taron Johnson and Dane Jackson are both in the concu sion protocol, while backup safety Taylor Rapp is nursing a neck injury. Douglas two interceptions against the Jets were Buffalos first in seven games. He showed similar ball-hawking abilities during his two-plus seasons with the Packers.Douglas credited the Bills’ defensive system for being familiar, and a recent pep talk he got from receiver Stefon Diggs for smoothing his transition.Diggs just grabbed me before the game, and he was like, Bro, we brought you here to Ted Williams Jersey be you. Dont be out there thinking, he recalled.Though he won a Super Bowl with the Eagles as a rookie in 2017, Douglas had difficulty finding his niche in the NFL. He lasted three seasons in Philadelphia before bouncing between several teams in 2020.It wasnt until his arrival in Green Bay in 2021 when Douglas blo somed under then-Packers defensive backs coach Jerry Gray.I had a coach who actually knew the game and taught me to play the game how I played the game without restrictions, Douglas said. He just gave me the freedom to just play football. Eduardo Rodriguez Jersey The Bills are providing him the same advice.Joseph arrived with an accomplished resume and a track record of being ready despite being out of football since closing last season with Philadelphia in its Super Bow lo s to Kansas City. The 35-year-old didnt sign with the Eagles until mid-November last year and wound up starting all 11 games, including three in the playoffs.The time he spent working out in the offseason not only paid off, but surprised Joseph, who said he didnt feel any sorene s after registering two tackles over 30 snaps in his debut, a 24-18 lo s at Cincinnati on Nov. 5.Body was fine, yeah. I was shocked just like you, Joseph said. I took advantage of my opportunity and tried to show them that Im here, Im ready, and Im gonna give you all Ive got.Coincidentally, the two are traveling to Philadelphia to face a team they both played for.Its been a while, but its a great environment, and now theyre one of the best teams in the league, said Douglas, who keeps tabs with some of his former teammates.Joseph turned down other offers to sign with Buffalo in hopes of going one step further than he did last year.The main focus is to get back to the Super Bowl and get this team one, said Joseph, who aside from football training spent the offseason Boston Red Sox Blank Jersey enjoying his family and working on side projects in construction and the food industry.Joseph said hes all in on football now.Im very big into finishing my projects, he said. If I start something, I want to finish it.___AP NFL: