On Monday, head coach Sean McDermott delivered a concerning injury update for the Buffalo Bills as the team gears up for their third and final preseason game. McDermott’s report, reminiscent of a roster in a long-term rehab facility, was accompanied by the news that no starters would play in Saturday’s game at Highmark Stadium. This decision stems from the widespread injuries within the team, although McDermott clarified that quarterback Josh Allen was never intended to play. The strategy behind this move is two-fold: to protect the starters and to better assess which players can fill the roster gaps and make the final cut.
Our starters will not play Saturday against the Panthers.
Coach McDermott provides an injury reporting heading into the preseason finale: https://t.co/rfqWOo1oxC pic.twitter.com/PyxaTcOdVV
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 19, 2024
Here’s what we learned from Monday’s press conference:
Bills Players Trending Up:
S Mike Edwards (hamstring)
S Cole Bishop (shoulder)
LB Nick Morrow (core/groin)
DE Javon Solomon (calf)
DT Austin Johnson (calf)
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McDermott indicated that these players will participate in practice this week, albeit on a limited basis. They’ll be involved in walk-throughs and individual drills, but it’s unlikely they’ll take part in any team activities.
Bills Players Holding Steady:
OT Travis Clayton (shoulder)
DE Casey Toohill (groin)
WR Lawrence Keys III (foot)
The Bills are hopeful Toohill will return to practice later this week. As for Clayton and Keys, McDermott noted they are improving. Keys has since been released.
Bills Players Week-to-Week:
S Damar Hamlin (hamstring)
LB Baylon Spector (calf)
WR Curtis Samuel (turf toe)
Just last week, Hamlin appeared poised to reclaim a starting safety spot, being the only healthy player at his position. Now, just three days later, he’s listed as week-to-week with a hamstring injury sustained during a joint practice with the Steelers. Spector, who was sidelined during that same practice, and Samuel, who has been dealing with turf toe for a few weeks, also fall into this category. While there’s hope they could be ready by the season opener on September 8, nothing is guaranteed.
Bills Players Trending Down:
LB Matt Milano (bicep)
Shane Buechele (neck) (placed on IR)
QB Mitch Trubisky (knee)
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (neck)
TE Quintin Morris (shoulder)
Matt Milano’s torn biceps, sustained during a bag drill last week, will sideline him for months, but the team is likely to place him on IR on the first day of the 2024 season to avoid losing him for the entire year. The more immediate concerns are the injuries from Saturday’s 9-3 win over the Steelers. Backup QB Mitch Trubisky injured his knee in the second quarter and is expected to be out “multiple weeks.” Valdes-Scantling also suffered a neck sprain and had to be carted off the field. Quintin Morris, who was performing well, is now undergoing additional testing before the team decides his status for the season.
McDermott acknowledged the difficulty of the situation. “It’s a challenge,” he said, pointing out that several key players have missed valuable practice time. He added that having a new player injured who is unfamiliar with the system adds another layer of difficulty.
In typical McDermott fashion, he tried to put a positive spin on the situation, noting that this weekend’s final preseason game will provide a good opportunity to evaluate the “other guys” and get a better sense of the depth chart.
Despite his optimism, McDermott can’t ignore the reality that over 17% of the Bills’ roster is on the injury report. While he remains confident the team will overcome this challenge, it’s clear that Buffalo’s opening-day roster will look significantly different than anticipated just a month ago.
