The Buffalo Bills got the kind of opening injury report that lets a team breathe a little easier heading into a divisional week. Josh Allen is not on it at all, which is the headline Buffalo wanted after Sunday’s scares. Even after a game that left plenty of people holding their breath, the Bills’ first report for Week 4 points to one clear piece of good news: their quarterback is clean.
That doesn’t mean the list is empty, or comfortable. Buffalo had four players sit out completely: linebacker Joe Andreesen with a knee issue, cornerback Christian Benford with a toe injury, wide receiver Keon Coleman with an ankle problem, and defensive tackle T.J.
Sanders because of illness. Three more were limited: safety Damar Hamlin with ribs, wide receiver DJ Moore with a shoulder, and defensive lineman Deone Walker with a quad.
Linebacker Terrel Bernard, outside linebacker Brandley Chubb, guard Ar’maj Reed Adams, and linebacker Dorian Williams all logged full practices, with Bernard dealing with a thumb issue, Chubb also listed with a thumb, Reed Adams with an elbow, and Williams with a hip.
The biggest Buffalo storyline remains Benford. The report confirms what the eye test already suggested: he won’t be out there this week.
The real question is how long this lingers. If the toe injury is minor, the Bills can move on quickly.
If it isn’t, the conversation shifts toward injured reserve. Rookie Davisson Igbinosun handled himself well on Sunday, but Buffalo would rather not spend much time relying on a rookie and a sophomore to carry the cornerback job.
On the other sideline, New England’s report gives some support to Drake Maye’s comment that shoulder discomfort may have played a role in his rough play. Maye is listed as a full participant, but he still showed up on the injury report after receiving medical treatment today.
The Patriots also had several key names in various stages of the week: defensive tackle Christian Barmore, cornerback Christian Gonzalez, and tackle Morgan Moses all missed practice, with Barmore and Gonzalez both dealing with shoulders and Moses with a toe. Linebacker Christian Elliss was limited with a chest issue, fullback Reggie Gilliam with a knee, linebacker Dre’Mont Jones with a shoulder, tight end Eli Raridon with a thigh, safety Brenden Schooler was back on the NFI list, and safety Craig Woodson was limited with a shoulder.
One matchup to watch is up front. If Barmore can’t play Sunday, Buffalo could see a familiar face trying to disrupt Allen: DaQuan Jones.
There’s also the question at corner for New England. Gonzalez’s shoulder history could leave the Patriots leaning on a rookie against Buffalo’s improved receiver group.
In Other News...
Jessica Pegula Just Raised A New Bills Ownership Question
Jessica Pegula has spent the last few years building a profile far beyond Buffalo, and now the idea of where she fits into the Bills future is getting a fresh look. In a CNBC interview, the No. 3-ranked tennis player said she might be interested in helping with the organization after her tennis career, a remark that lands in a family context already shaped by the Pegulas long-running ownership of the team and the broader uncertainty around how the next generation gets involved.
For now, there is no official role for Jessica or any other family member beyond the varying levels of involvement they already have, and the family has also made clear it does not intend to sell the teams it owns despite the soaring valuations. Still, with Kim Pegulas health issues part of the backdrop, the question in Buffalo is not just who owns the Bills, but who will actually be around and ready to help steer them when the time comes. [Read more 🡒]
Bills May Have A Tough James Cook Decision Coming
James Cook has become one of the more interesting long-term pieces on Buffalos roster, not just because of what he does on the field, but because of what comes next. Under contract through the 2029 season, he is still in a comfortable team-controlled window, yet his recent play and the way the running back market has been moving make him a name worth watching well before any real deadline arrives.
His current deal sits 13th among running backs, which is respectable value for the Bills right now, but maybe not for long if the position keeps climbing financially. Buffalo could eventually decide that locking Cook in with an extension is the cleanest way to avoid a bigger decision later, especially if his camp starts looking at the growing salaries around the league and sees room for a raise. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen's Knee Suddenly Looms Over Bills Patriots Week
Josh Allens knee has quickly become the latest subplot for a Bills team trying to keep its early-season momentum rolling into a matchup with the Patriots. After limping off the field following Week 3, the quarterback drew immediate attention, but head coach Joe Brady said he is not worried about the injury and indicated Allen is trending toward being available in Week 4.
Practice reports will tell the rest of the story as the week unfolds, and thats where Buffalo will get its clearest read on how limited, if at all, Allen might be. For a team that runs through its quarterback in so many ways, even a minor health question can shape the entire conversation heading into a divisional game. [Read more 🡒]