The Buffalo Bills will be short two veteran starters when they take on the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football.
After Saturday’s practice, head coach Joe Brady said Ed Oliver and Joshua Palmer have been ruled out for Week 5. Oliver is working through a knee injury he picked up last Sunday, while Palmer showed up on Friday’s report with a shoulder issue.
That still leaves a few situations to sort through before kickoff. DJ Moore is questionable again, which is the same spot he was in last week.
The veteran receiver has not missed a game since 2020, but he also didn’t get through last week cleanly. He followed a similar practice pattern, was listed as questionable, and then started the game before leaving after aggravating the shoulder injury he has been trying to manage.
That’s not ideal for a Bills offense that believed it had finally found a true WR1.
Dee Alford is also questionable, and that one matters because Buffalo does not have a backup listed behind him at nickel corner. On Sunday, the Bills were using Damar Hamlin in the slot.
Landon Jackson is carrying a questionable tag as well. There had been talk that his injury might be an ACL issue after last week’s game, but the second-year defensive lineman returned to action, sat out one day as a DNP, and then logged two limited practices this week.
There is some good news on Buffalo’s side, too. Brady said Christian Benford will play after missing last week with a toe injury. The corner’s status had looked uncertain after he was in a walking boot two weeks ago, but he is set to go.
Brady also said rookie Skyler Bell will be active this week. It will be the first regular-season NFL action for the fourth-round pick out of UConn, who has been saying he’s ready for this moment for weeks. Monday night, he gets that chance.
In Other News...
James Cook Could Be Central To Buffalos Bounce-Back Against The Rams
After a frustrating loss to New England, the Bills turn their attention to a Week 5 matchup with the Rams looking for a steadier offensive rhythm, and James Cook figures to remain right in the middle of it. He has been one of Buffalos most reliable pieces through the first month, piling up 421 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 70 carries while helping keep the offense from leaning too heavily in one direction.
Cooks recent stretch has only reinforced his value, with a score on the ground in each of the past three games. ESPN Fantasy sees him continuing in a featured role against Los Angeles, projecting a workload heavy enough to shape Buffalos approach if the Bills can get back on track and establish the run early. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Passing Game Suddenly Rests On Keon Coleman In Week 5
The Bills passing game has been forced to adjust for a couple of weeks now, and the next test could lean even more heavily on Keon Coleman. With the offense already navigating a receiver room that has had to reshuffle since early in the season, Coleman has been the one stepping into a larger role and producing enough in Weeks 2 and 4 to keep Buffalo moving through the air. Against the Rams, that growth matters even more because the Bills need someone besides their usual perimeter threats to create separation and keep the passing game balanced.
Colemans challenge is a familiar one for young receivers: keep building trust while drawing top defensive attention. The Rams have the kind of corner play that can make every target feel crowded, and Buffalos staff has reason to believe Coleman is ready for the assignment based on how he has handled his expanded opportunities so far. If the receiver situation breaks the wrong way, though, the Bills may have to ask even more of him than they planned when the week began. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Brady Has Bills Fans Hopeful And Uneasy For One Reason
Joe Bradys first month as the Bills head coach has offered enough to fuel optimism, and just enough uneven play to keep Buffalo fans a little on edge. After the team moved on from Sean McDermott and elevated Brady for the 2026 season, the early return has been a 3-1 start through four games, a sign that the transition has gone better than many around the league might have expected. Brady has also continued working closely with Josh Allen, with an emphasis on cutting down turnovers and smoothing out the offenses rougher stretches.
But the reason this feels unfinished is the same reason it feels promising: the Bills havent yet looked fully settled under their new leader, and the recent inconsistency has left room for questions about how sustainable this start really is. Allen remains the center of everything Buffalo wants to do, and Bradys ability to clean up the mistakes without stifling the quarterbacks aggressiveness will go a long way toward determining whether this early surge turns into something sturdier over the long haul. [Read more 🡒]