Buffalo made it through its bye week healthier, but Sunday’s win over Baltimore still left the Bills with a few new names to watch heading into Monday Night Football.
The biggest concern is at wide receiver. Joshua Palmer exited Buffalo’s 36-10 victory with a hamstring injury and did not return, while D.J.
Moore came back from a shoulder issue only to leave again after hurting his knee. Buffalo also had to get by without starting right tackle Spencer Brown and defensive tackle Greg Gaines.
The Bills now turn to a Week 9 matchup at Minnesota, with both teams sitting at 6-1. Buffalo visits the Vikings on Monday night at 8:15 p.m.
ET Nov. 9 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota is dealing with an injury of its own after safety Theo Jackson hurt his quadriceps in Sunday’s 19-15 loss to Detroit.
NFL teams must file practice participation reports on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for a Monday game, and the game status report is due by 4 p.m. Saturday.
Palmer’s injury came late in the first quarter when he pulled up while running a deep route. He appeared to get hurt while changing direction and went to the ground. It’s another frustrating setback for Palmer, who also missed Buffalo’s Week 5 game against the Los Angeles Rams because of a shoulder injury.
Moore’s day ended after a productive return. He finished with four catches for 82 yards and a touchdown against Baltimore.
In the fourth quarter, he took contact from behind, limped off the field and was treated by Buffalo’s medical staff. Moore told NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe after the game that he hyperextended his knee and planned to have it checked.
He had originally suffered an AC joint sprain against Detroit in Week 2, aggravated it against New England in Week 4, then sat out Buffalo’s next two games before returning Sunday.
Brown missed the game because of a lingering back injury. He first hurt his back in Buffalo’s Week 5 win over the Rams, though he did play the following week against Las Vegas.
Gaines was a late addition to the injury list after hurting his calf in Friday’s practice. He had not appeared on Buffalo’s report Wednesday or Thursday before being listed Friday as a limited participant.
There were also a few other Bills injury situations to track. Dee Alford missed the game with an ankle injury after being limited Wednesday and then sitting out Thursday and Friday. He was listed as questionable and had already missed Buffalo’s Week 5 win over the Rams with the same issue.
Dalton Kincaid played through a chest injury despite being questionable, and made the most of it with four catches for a team-high 86 yards and a touchdown. TJ Parker was also active after being questionable with a knee injury, finishing with two tackles and a sack.
Alec Anderson briefly exited in the first quarter after appearing to hurt his right leg, but he was evaluated on the sideline and returned. Ed Oliver also came back after missing two straight games with a knee injury, playing 20 snaps and recording three quarterback hits without a tackle.
On Buffalo’s other injury lists, Zane Durant remains on injured reserve with a neck injury and is eligible to return once medically cleared. The Bills can designate him to return and open his 21-day practice window.
Tyrell Shavers had his 21-day practice window opened Oct. 28 while recovering from the torn ACL he suffered during Buffalo’s wild-card playoff victory last season. Dorian Strong is listed on the non-football injury list with a neck injury.
For Minnesota, Jackson is the main new concern after the quadriceps injury Sunday. Jay Ward was listed as questionable with a knee injury against Detroit in Week 8 but was active and had one tackle. The Vikings also have several players on injured reserve: Jamal Adams, Tyler Batty, Donovan Jackson, Josh Oliver and Nick Samac.
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