The Bills are heading into Week 14 without two key pieces on defense - and potentially a third on offense - as head coach Sean McDermott confirmed that edge rusher Joey Bosa and linebacker Terrel Bernard have both been ruled out for Sunday’s matchup against the Bengals. Wide receiver Joshua Palmer is also considered doubtful.
Let’s start with the defensive side, where the absence of Bosa and Bernard is a significant blow for a unit that’s been leaning on both players to generate pressure and clean up in the second level. Bosa, who signed a one-year, $12.6 million deal with Buffalo after being released by the Chargers this offseason, has been a disruptive force in his first year in Western New York. Through 12 games, he’s posted 25 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, and five forced fumbles - a stat line that speaks to his ability to not just get to the quarterback, but to create momentum-changing plays.
Now 30, Bosa’s career has had its share of ups and downs, but his impact when healthy has never been in question. After spending the first eight years of his career with the Chargers - who drafted him in the first round back in 2016 - Bosa was brought in to give the Bills a proven pass-rushing presence off the edge.
And for the most part, he’s delivered. His absence this week means Buffalo will need to get creative with their pass rush, likely leaning more on rotational players and blitz packages to generate heat on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
As for Bernard, this will mark his second straight missed game, and his absence leaves a noticeable void in the middle of the defense. He’s been a reliable presence all season, both in run support and in coverage, and losing him for another week puts added pressure on the rest of the linebacker group to step up against a Bengals offense that can stress you in a variety of ways.
On the offensive side, Joshua Palmer being listed as doubtful adds another layer of concern. While not officially ruled out yet, the designation doesn’t bode well for his availability. Palmer has been a solid contributor when healthy, and his potential absence could force the Bills to dig deeper into their receiving corps - not ideal in a game that could turn into a shootout.
Bottom line: the Bills will be missing some serious firepower on both sides of the ball when they take the field against Cincinnati. With playoff implications looming large, this is a week where depth and coaching adjustments will be tested.