The Buffalo Bills are heading into Monday night with a thinner margin for error than they’d like. A 29-26 loss to the New England Patriots already put them in chase mode, and now the injury report has added more uncertainty before their trip to face the Los Angeles Rams.
Head coach Joe Brady gave the clearest picture yet of where things stand, and the news was mixed at best. Joshua Palmer and Ed Oliver are both out, while DJ Moore and Dee Alford are listed as questionable. On the positive side, Christian Benford is good to go.
Palmer’s absence is the latest hit to Buffalo’s receiver group. Brady said the wideout was hurt in practice and is still going through additional testing. “He got kind of twisted up in practice yesterday,” Brady said about Palmer’s injury.
That leaves the Bills without another option at receiver in a game where they’re already trying to rebound from last week’s loss. Brady’s update makes it clear Buffalo will have to sort through its remaining choices before kickoff.
Oliver’s status is just as important on the other side of the ball. The Bills will be without him against the Rams, which strips another piece from their preparation heading into Week 5.
The secondary could still shift before Monday night, too. Alford remains questionable after suffering an ankle injury in the loss to New England, and Moore is also questionable while dealing with a shoulder injury. Benford being available does give Buffalo at least one welcome lift in the back end.
The Bills and Rams are set for an 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff on Monday.
In Other News...
Aaron Donald's Rams Return Comes With One Big Bills Concern
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Sean McVay said Donald and other Rams were being built up gradually in practice with Monday in mind, a reminder that simply getting him back is only part of the equation. Los Angeles also plans to manage his workload carefully, balancing the need for Donalds impact against the realities of his injury and age as the Rams get ready for one of their tougher early-season tests. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Return Job Suddenly Looks Like A Real Problem Again
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With the answer no longer obvious, the Rams may have to keep looking inside the roster for a better fit. Dean Connors, Tutu Atwell and Max Klare are among the players who could be asked to step in, and the uncertainty alone is a reminder that special teams can become a problem fast when the return job stops producing. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Get Timely Reinforcements For A Huge Test Against Buffalo
The Rams should head into their Week 5 matchup with Buffalo in far better shape than they were earlier in the week, with multiple starters expected to be available for one of the most important tests on their schedule. Colby Parkinson, Jaylen Watson and Aaron Donald are all in line to suit up, giving Los Angeles a welcome boost on both sides of the ball as it prepares to measure itself against a Bills team built to punish any roster that is short-handed.
Quentin Lake remains the main question mark for the Rams after being listed questionable with a hip injury, though his move to limited practice on Saturday offered at least some encouragement. Buffalo, meanwhile, has its own availability issues heading into the game, with Ed Oliver and Joshua Palmer ruled out and DJ Moore listed questionable, setting up a meeting where health and depth could matter just as much as the game plan. [Read more 🡒]
