The Buffalo Bills enter Sunday’s matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders carrying a crowded injury report, but no one has been officially ruled out.
Five players landed on the questionable list for Week 6: cornerback Dee Alford, wide receiver DJ Moore, defensive tackle Ed Oliver, wide receiver Joshua Palmer and defensive tackle T.J. Sanders. That keeps the situation fluid for Buffalo, with availability set to be decided closer to kickoff.
Moore and Oliver are the biggest names in that group. Both sat out Wednesday and Thursday before returning to limited work on Friday.
Moore is dealing with a shoulder injury, and his status is worth watching after he missed only the third game of his career. Oliver, who missed Buffalo’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, is coming back from a knee injury and could give the defensive front a much-needed lift if he’s cleared.
Palmer stayed limited all week with a shoulder injury and is also questionable after missing Monday night’s game against Los Angeles. The signs point toward a possible return, even if the final call hasn’t been made yet.
Alford was limited in every practice while managing an ankle injury and also missed last week. Sanders took a step forward Friday, going from limited work on Wednesday and Thursday to a full practice, which leaves him in better shape heading into Sunday.
There are also plenty of Bills who finished the week without a designation. Cornerback Christian Benford, offensive tackle Spencer Brown, outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, wide receiver Keon Coleman, defensive lineman Landon Jackson, safety C.J.
Gardner-Johnson, running back Ty Johnson, outside linebacker T.J. Parker and guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams were all full participants on Friday.
Linebacker Terrel Bernard was limited Friday after logging full practices Wednesday and Thursday, but he still appears set for the weekend. Brown, who left Monday’s win with a back injury, also does not carry a designation after saying earlier this week that he was going to play.
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Bills Mock Draft Outlook Highlights A Defensive Need Fans Know Too Well
The Bills enter Week 6 at 4-1 and still look like one of the AFCs most complete teams on offense, with Josh Allen driving the show as they get ready for the Raiders. The defense, though, remains the familiar concern, sitting near the bottom of the league in several areas and keeping the conversation centered on whether Buffalo will use the draft to reinforce that side of the ball.
One recent mock draft points in that direction, linking Buffalo to Notre Dame safety Brauntae Johnson with the No. 29 pick. It is only a projection at this stage, but it underscores how often the Bills are being tied to help in the secondary as the season unfolds and the front office weighs where the biggest long-term fix might be. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Fans Have An Unusual AFC East Rooting Interest This Week
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It is also not a simple ask for New York. The Patriots have owned this matchup for years, and the numbers suggest the Jets are still chasing them on both sides of the ball. So while Buffalo can focus on its own game, there is a real division subplot sitting in the background, one that could either help the Bills protect their lead or leave the standings a lot tighter heading into the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Passing Game Hinges On D.J. Moores Uncertain Return
D.J. Moores availability has become one of the more important subplots for Buffalo as it prepares for the Raiders, because the Bills have not gotten much from him since the shoulder injury slowed him down. Moore missed Week 5 with an AC joint issue, which snapped a streak of more than 90 straight games played, and his limited workload this season has already changed how people are viewing his role in the passing game.
The encouraging sign for Buffalo is that Moore was back on the practice field Friday, but the uncertainty remains very real. He is listed as questionable for Sunday, and even the betting markets have been adjusting around the possibility that he either suits up at less than full strength or remains hard to count on, leaving the Bills waiting to see how much of their passing plan they can actually build around him. [Read more 🡒]