Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver has been grieving at training camp following the accidental death of his 2-year-old son, also named Ed, who was pronounced dead after being found unresponsive in a residential pool in Harris County, Texas, on June 28, according to a person briefed on the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Bills rally around Ed Oliver after accidental death of his 2-year-old son
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver has been grieving at training camp following the accidental death of his 2-year-old son, also named Ed, who was pronounced dead after being found unresponsive in a residential pool in Harris County, Texas, on June 28, according to a person briefed on the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Oliver has asked for privacy and prayers. The Bills and the player had not publicly disclosed details of the incident, according to the AP's source. The Harris County Sheriff's department posted a note on its Facebook account on the evening of June 28 describing the drowning of a toddler in a neighborhood community north of Houston, without naming names or ages. A sheriff's official told the AP on Saturday that a report was not immediately available.
Many of Oliver's teammates only learned of the death on Friday. The Bills went on to defeat the Cleveland Browns 31-7 in a preseason game on Saturday.
Oliver, 28, was selected by the Bills in the first round of the 2019 draft out of Houston and is in his eighth season with the team. He reported to training camp on time last month and appeared with the starters in the Bills' preseason-opening 29-14 win over Carolina the previous weekend. He did not practice during the week leading up to the Cleveland game because of an undisclosed injury.
- The source does not state the current status or findings of the Harris County Sheriff's investigation.
- The source does not identify the specific residential pool location beyond describing it as a neighborhood community north of Houston.
- The source does not state the nature of Oliver's undisclosed injury that kept him from practicing during the week.
- The source does not include any statement from Ed Oliver himself beyond characterizing his request for privacy and prayers.
- The source does not state whether charges have been filed or are being considered in connection with the toddler's death.
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