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Buffalo’s Elijah Holmes faces season-ending knee surgery cover
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Buffalo’s Elijah Holmes faces season-ending knee surgery

Pete Lembo’s update ends the starting quarterback’s return hopes for 2026 as Jason Wright prepares for Toledo.

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  • Buffalo quarterback Elijah Holmes will undergo season-ending knee surgery, ending the possibility of a return to the Bulls’ offense this fall. Coach Pete Lembo announced the update after Tuesday’s practice, according to Marquel Slaughter of The Buffalo News and a subsequent report from By the Belt.

    Holmes has been absent since suffering the injury against Florida International on September 12. Buffalo’s official preview for Saturday’s visit to Toledo confirms that Jason Wright first entered in the second half of that game when Holmes left hurt.

    Slaughter reported Lembo’s surgery announcement in this October 6 post.

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  • The update concludes a short debut season for Holmes at Buffalo. J.H. Jimenez of By the Belt reported that the Wingate transfer won the starting job over Wright during fall camp. He completed 35 of 61 passes for 350 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions across parts of two games before the injury.

    Wright has started in his place since the Penn State game. By the Belt describes him as the presumed starter for the remainder of the season, with senior Mason Cumbie listed as his backup. That projection follows the surgery announcement; the report does not describe a new quarterback competition.

    Buffalo’s own game notes give a more recent measure of Wright’s progress. Across his last two starts, he has completed 56 percent of his passes and averaged 155 passing yards. He also rushed for 95 yards against Robert Morris, adding a running contribution while the Bulls adjusted to playing without Holmes.

  • Running back Messiah Burch has helped carry that offense. Buffalo’s preview credits him with 146 rushing yards against Robert Morris, followed by 106 yards and a touchdown against Western Michigan. Those consecutive 100-yard games give Wright support as the team prepares for another conference opponent.

    The Bulls are coming off a 20–17 loss to Western Michigan. Saturday’s game at Toledo begins at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. Holmes’ surgery update settles his availability for the remainder of the season, while Buffalo continues its preparations with Wright at quarterback.