As the Bills’ season concluded over the weekend, members of the team have begun the process of looking back over this season in reflection, as well as how to improve.

One of the challenges for their defense entering next season will be improving their pass rush.

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And for their defensive ends to be healthy.

One of the leaders of that group, defensive end Greg Rousseau, spoke to the media during the locker cleanout on Sunday and revealed something previously unknown.

The edge professed that he was injured during the first game of the season and played through it.

I started the season off, I kind of hurt my knee versus Baltimore,” Rousseau said when asked about his individual play and how it ramped up near the end of the year.

“But then when I got healthier towards the middle end of the season, I feel like I started playing some real good ball, especially heading into the playoffs, getting to the quarterback, hitting the quarterback. Just trying to help the team win. I feel like I try my best, and obviously, there’s always room to grow. So I’ll be excited for the opportunity next year to keep on getting better and keep on helping the team win.”

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The 2021 first-round pick out of Miami had more recently been practicing in a limited capacity throughout the week, going into the Bills‘ Division Round playoff matchup with the Denver Broncos. This after a strong outing in Buffalo’s Wild Card round win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, finishing with six total tackles, 1 sack, and one pass defensed over 44 defensive snaps.

He started opposite veteran Joey Bosa this season, forming a formidable duo until Bosa’s play plateaued late in the season after missing time with a hamstring injury himself in Week 14.

“It’s tough. It’s part of the game,” he added. “You could put together a roster at the beginning of the season, and then like fast forward 20 weeks, it’s not the same. There are a lot of injuries, a lot of things happen in football. It’s a violent game.”

It’s unknown yet if Bosa will resign with the Bills this offseason, but Rousseau acknowledged that their teammates stepped up do their part to help the team compete.

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“A lot of dudes stepped up. A lot of dudes really embraced it, and nobody was scared of the moment. Everybody stepped up to the plate and tried their best.”

The Bills brass are kicking off the search for a new head coach for the first time in nine years after parting ways with Sean McDermott, which could mean a new defensive coordinator and head coach who will seek to maximize Buffalo’s pass rush and defenders like Rousseau.

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: NFL AFC Buffalo Bills Greg Rousseau played through injury