Keon Coleman is still in a walking boot, and he was one of several Bills sidelined as Buffalo sorted through a long injury list after Saturday’s 31-7 preseason win over the Cleveland Browns.
Coleman did not suit up for the game, and NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reported Thursday that the wide receiver is dealing with a foot/toe injury. He played in Buffalo’s preseason opener against Carolina, where he caught three passes for 17 yards and scored on a 9-yard touchdown from Josh Allen. After that game, Bills coach Joe Brady said there wasn’t concern about Coleman, but the receiver missed Thursday’s joint practice with Cleveland and was still in the boot before Saturday’s game.
Khalil Shakir also sat out the joint practice and the preseason game. Brady said Thursday that Shakir’s absence was injury-related, though he didn’t offer specifics. Before kickoff Saturday, Shakir was on the field working with athletic trainers and wearing a sleeve on his right leg.
Ed Oliver did not travel to Cleveland for either the joint practice or the game, and Brady confirmed after Saturday’s win that his absence was injury-related. Oliver played in the preseason opener against Carolina but did not practice last week. The Bills also acknowledged before the game that Oliver and his family are grieving the death of his young son.
Saturday brought one more issue when rookie offensive lineman Jude Bowry went into the medical tent during the game. He was replaced at right tackle by Chase Lundt, then returned to the sideline but sat out Buffalo’s next offensive series. Brady did not give an update afterward.
A few other Bills remain on the shelf as the preseason winds down. Skyler Bell missed his second straight game with a hamstring injury after getting hurt during the Return of the Blue & Red practice Aug. 8 at new Highmark Stadium.
Ty Johnson has not played since suffering a lower-body injury during that same practice, when he went one-on-one with linebacker Joe Andreessen and went down near the right sideline. Johnson was on the field before Saturday’s game wearing a sleeve on his right leg.
Connor McGovern also has not appeared in a preseason game after a lower-body injury in the Return of the Blue & Red practice. He was chasing down Christian Benford after an interception when he grabbed the back of his right leg and walked off with trainers. McGovern worked with athletic trainers before Saturday’s game but did not play.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson has yet to make his preseason debut. He was carted off the practice field Aug. 1, returned five days later, then left practice early Aug. 10 and has remained out of preseason action.
Maxwell Hairston missed his second consecutive preseason game with a lower-body injury. He first sat out the final training camp practice at St.
John Fisher University on Aug. 7, and the Bills said then they were not worried about his long-term availability. He dressed and warmed up before the preseason opener against Carolina but did not play.
Cole Bishop also missed the Browns game after sitting out the preseason opener with a lower-body injury. He was hurt during the Return of the Blue & Red practice Aug. 8, missed time the following week, then returned to practice Aug. 18 and took part in Thursday’s joint practice against Cleveland.
Tyrell Shavers remains on the physically unable to perform list while recovering from the torn ACL he suffered during last season’s playoffs, so he has not practiced in training camp or played in the preseason.
Michael Hoecht is still working back from the torn right Achilles he suffered last season. He has practiced during training camp but has not played in either preseason game, and he is expected to play in the third preseason game.
Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said last week, "He's going to hit the field before the regular season starts," defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said last week. "He's in a great spot."
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