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Alonso loss a killer for Bills

The NFL preseason is much like a roulette wheel anyway. Everybody runs out on the field for workouts and practices, and seemingly every week some big name is struck down, lost for the season. That happened yesterday to one of the game's better young defenders.

The Bills aren't saying anything definitive about the extent of Alonso's knee injury, but several media outlets are reporting he tore his ACL and is gone for the season. It will no doubt be official in the next day or two.

Alonso is the Bills' best young defender and a key playmaker in their defense. He led the team in tackles, recovered 2 fumbles and also recorded 4 interceptions last season. He was also being shifted from middle linebacker to outside linebacker in the team's 4-3 defense, with the idea being he'd have a chance to make more plays. "Why limit him by having to take on those big guards?" said GM Doug Whaley earlier in the offseason.

For a Bills defense that also lost playmaking safety Jairus Byrd in the offseason, it's a major blow. The middle linebacker will be former Patriot Brandon Spikes, but Buffalo will try to replace Alonso with either Nigel Bradham or third-rounder Preston Brown.

Alonso's 159 tackles a year ago ranked 7th over the last five seasons. Not a good situation for Buffalo, and we've barely entered July.

TOP TACKLING SEASONS, 2009-2013
YearPlayer SoloAst Total
2010Jerod Mayo, N.E. 11461175
2013Vontaze Burfict, Cin.11457171
2011London Fletcher, Wash. 9670166
2012Luke Kuechly, Car. 10361164
2013Paul Posluszny, Jac.12240162
2010Stephen Tulloch, Det. 11149160
2013Kiko Alonso, Buff.8772159
2011D'Qwell Jackson, Clev. 11642158
2013Luke Kuechly, Car.9363156
2011Chad Greenway, Minn. 8965154
2009Patrick Willis, S.F. 11438152
2010Paul Posluszny, Buff. 10348151
2011Pat Angerer, Ind. 7870148
2012NaVorro Bowman, S.F. 9652148
2012Chad Greenway, Minn. 9850148
2012Jerod Mayo, N.E. 8859147
2011Curtis Lofton, Atl. 8760147
2013NaVorro Bowman, S.F.12025145
2013Lavonte David, T.B.10738145
2012Jerrell Freeman, Ind. 9055145
2011James Anderson, Car. 9847145
2010Chad Greenway, Minn. 10935144
2011NaVorro Bowman, S.F. 11132143
2009London Fletcher, Wash. 9547142
2012James Laurinaitis, St.L. 11725142
2011James Laurinaitis, St.L. 10537142
2009Barrett Ruud, T.B. 10735142
2009Jon Beason, Car. 11130141
2013D'Qwell Jackson, Clev. 7566141
2010Donte Whitner, Buff. 9644140
2012Bobby Wagner, Sea. 8753140
2010Ray Lewis, Balt. 10237139
2012Paul Posluszny, Jac. 10633139
2012London Fletcher, Wash. 7861139
2012Lavonte David, T.B. 11227139
2011Antoine Bethea, Ind. 8059139
2010London Fletcher, Wash. 8749136
2013Stephen Tulloch, Det.9342135
2010Lawrence Timmons, Pitt. 9639135

--Andy Richardson

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