The Bills got one familiar face back on the field Wednesday, but they also had to deal with another week where Spencer Brown was nowhere to be found in practice.
Brown, the right tackle, sat out with a back issue that has now stretched well beyond what the team hoped. He had previously said the problem was just soreness and something he tweaked after a long flight out west.
He also said he rested during practice in Week 6 so he could be available against the Las Vegas Raiders. Even with the bye week, the soreness is still there three weeks later.
Buffalo did get encouraging news elsewhere, starting with Tyrell Shavers. The wideout is back in the mix for the first time this season after the Bills opened his 21-day practice window. Shavers had ACL surgery in late January, and he now has until the week before Thanksgiving to make his way back onto the roster.
The most positive sign among the limited participants may have been the status of DJ Moore and Ed Oliver. Both were limited rather than absent, which at least suggests the bye week didn’t push them backward. That doesn’t guarantee they’ll be fully healthy soon, but it’s better than the alternative and better than seeing them drop off the report entirely.
The rest of the limited group came with more familiar concerns. Dee Alford is still dealing with an ankle injury.
Bradley Chubb, who visibly missed snaps in Week 6, now has chest and thumb issues listed. Dalton Kincaid is also on the report with a chest injury, and that’s a name the Bills would rather not see there again.
In his fourth NFL season, he still hasn’t put together a fully healthy year. He played 16 games as a rookie, then missed four and five in the next two seasons.
Buffalo also listed TJ Parker with a knee issue, T.J. Sanders with a shoulder injury, and G Ar’maj Reed-Adams with back and elbow problems.
There was a long list of players no longer on the injury report: Christian Benford, Terrel Bernard, Keon Coleman, Landon Jackson, and Josh Palmer. S C.J. Gardner Johnson is also off the injury list while serving his one-game suspension from the on-field altercation in Las Vegas, though the extra week should still help on the recovery front.
On the other sideline, Lamar Jackson is back in practice as expected. The Ravens quarterback has been working through a high ankle sprain for the past month and has missed the last three games. He appears on track to play in Buffalo this weekend.
In Other News...
Bills Secondary Suddenly Has A Maxwell Hairston Problem To Solve
Maxwell Hairstons place in the Bills secondary has shifted quickly, and not in the way Buffalo wanted from a second-year cornerback expected to take a step forward. After he gave up two touchdowns in a game, Hairston lost his starting job to rookie Davison Igbinosun, and his playing time has dropped off sharply since then, putting a little more pressure on a unit that has been one of the teams defining strengths.
TreDavious White is back in the building on the practice squad and already sounds like someone intent on helping the young corner regain his footing. White has spoken up in support of Hairston and made it clear he wants to be part of the fix, which matters for a Bills defense that can ill afford uncertainty at cornerback if Hairston is going to work his way back into a larger role. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Trade Buzz Keeps Coming Back To One Defensive Need
As the AFC leaders head into Week 8, the trade chatter around Buffalo keeps circling back to the same area of need on defense. The Bills have been mentioned among the teams that could look for help before the deadline, and the fit being floated from Arizona is a familiar one for a roster trying to sharpen itself for the stretch run.
Budda Baker is the name that keeps surfacing in that conversation, which makes sense given the value of a proven safety on a contender. With the speculation centered on teams trying to solve issues before they become bigger problems, Buffalos interest in secondary help is part of a broader market that could get active quickly if the right player becomes available. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Secondary Suddenly Faces A Pressure Test Without C.J. Gardner-Johnson
The Bills secondary will have a different look coming out of the bye week, and not by choice. Buffalo has spent the break trying to clean up communication and build confidence in coverage, with coach Jim Leonhard stressing those areas after a stretch in which the unit has needed more stability from the back end. C.J. Gardner-Johnsons uneven play has been part of that conversation, especially with his struggles in coverage and tackling drawing scrutiny as the Bills prepare for a tougher test.
Now the focus shifts to how Buffalo fills the void against Baltimore. With Gardner-Johnson unavailable, the Bills have to sort out the back end quickly and keep the defense from losing rhythm in a matchup that can punish even small breakdowns. Damar Hamlin is the likeliest answer in the lineup, and the Bills will need him to fit smoothly alongside Cole Bishop if they want the secondary to hold up under pressure. [Read more 🡒]