The Bills opened Week 10 with a long injury list, and the biggest concern sits right where Buffalo can least afford it: along the offensive line.
As the team started preparing for Sunday’s divisional matchup with the New York Jets, 11 players showed up on Wednesday’s injury report. Nobody was held out of the walkthrough, but six players were listed as limited and five were full participants.
Four offensive linemen were among the limited group. Alec Anderson, Spencer Brown, Dion Dawkins, and Connor McGovern all showed up on the report, with Anderson and Brown dealing with ankle injuries, Dawkins listed with a rib injury, and McGovern with a neck injury. Dawkins and Anderson both sat out Monday night’s win over the Minnesota Vikings, so their status is one of the main things to track as the week unfolds.
Christian Benford was limited as well, working through a wrist injury he picked up during Monday’s game against Minnesota. He briefly left that contest before returning, and his availability will be something to monitor.
Dalton Kincaid also landed on the report as a limited participant with an ankle injury. He, too, briefly exited Monday’s game after appearing to roll his ankle, then came back and finished. His chest injury from previous weeks no longer appears to be an issue.
The other limited player was not on offense or in the secondary. Guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams was full with back and elbow injuries.
Buffalo also had two players continuing their returns from injury designations. Defensive back Jordan Hancock, coming back from injured reserve, and wide receiver Tyrell Shavers, returning from the PUP list, were both full participants again on Wednesday. The Bills still haven’t made a call on either player’s roster status.
With two practices left before Sunday’s trip to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Thursday’s report should give a clearer picture of where things stand for Buffalo’s banged-up group.
In Other News...
Bills Prime-Time Game Just Added Fuel To ESPNs Broadcast Problem
The Bills Monday night trip to Minnesota ended up being part of a bigger ESPN broadcast story than just the game itself. Pat McAfees alternate feed for Bills-Vikings drew 406,000 viewers, while the NFL Networks Next Gen Stats broadcast pulled in 499,000, a notable edge in the same Week 9 window. It was also the second time this season that Next Gen Stats has topped McAfees show in viewership, a reminder that ESPNs experiment with alternate presentations is still fighting for traction.
There was still a bit of star power attached to the broadcast, though, as former CBS analyst Tony Romo made a surprise appearance after his departure from CBS Sports. Even with that kind of name recognition, the numbers suggest ESPNs prime-time broadcast setup remains a work in progress, especially when the competition is another niche feed drawing a larger audience. For Bills fans, it was one more layer to a national spotlight game that ended up generating as much discussion about the telecast as the action on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Fans Have One Big Reason To Be Uneasy About Sunday
The Bills head into Sundays Week 10 meeting with the Jets at Highmark Stadium in a familiar spot, sitting in strong position in the AFC East and carrying the look of a team that should control the day. Buffalo also has a new piece in Amani Hooker after the recent trade, and his readiness to get on the field is one of the more interesting subplots as the roster continues to take shape around another important stretch of the season.
Still, there is enough here to make Buffalo fans a little uneasy. The Jets bring a young roster built around three first-round picks, and the game could hinge on details like red zone execution and whether James Cook can help tilt the matchup in Buffalos favor. The bigger concern may be up front, where injury issues on the Bills offensive line could test a group that cannot afford to lose much stability in a division game. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Loss To Bills Came With One Awkward Sideshow Too
The Bills Week 9 win over the Vikings had plenty of football to chew on, but one odd visual from the afternoon drew its own share of attention. James Cooks pants picked up a yellowish stain that viewers quickly noticed, and the running back pushed back on the idea that it was the result of an accident, even as Buffalo kept leaning on him throughout the game.
Cook still turned in a workmanlike performance, finishing with 107 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries as the Bills handled Minnesota. The game also came at a notable moment for the Vikings, who moved quickly afterward to trade for quarterback Kirk Cousins, adding another layer to a strange day that had football and a little unintended theater all wrapped together. [Read more 🡒]