When the Buffalo Bills host the New York Jets on Sunday, they know they’ll be without Von Miller, Micah Hyde, Jake Kumerow, Christian Benford and Jamison Crowder — all of whom are on injured reserve. But the real question is who else will sit out the second of a must-win division stretch with three games on the schedule.
For Buffalo, touted as possibly the NFL’s most complete roster in August, the training room seemed to have a revolving door this season. Ankle injuries have sidelined a number of Bills players for several weeks; Elbow injuries have plagued both offense and defense; and then there are the dreaded spontaneous knee and hamstring injuries that keep popping up just when it looks like things might be getting better.
Here’s a look at the midweek injury report and what it could mean if the Bills start Sunday afternoon.
Bill’s injuries trending
- QB Josh Allen (elbow)
- C Mitch Morse (elbow/vet rest)
- AND Rodger Saffold (knee/vet brace)
- S. Jordan Poyer (Vet Rest)
- S Cam Lewis (Forearm)
For the second week in a row, Allen was a full participant in all of the week’s exercises. Allen injured his elbow in the final series of Buffalo’s loss to the Jets when they first faced them in Week 9, but despite being either a DNP or restricted in training over the next three weeks, he never missed one game time. The fact that he remains on the list could indicate that he still has joint pain and/or swelling, but that won’t keep him off the field.
Morse has been dealing with the elbow injury since the first offensive kick of the 2022 season in September. He did not play in Detroit in Week 12 but returned to action against New England last week. For Saffold and Poyer, while the former lists a knee injury, both are really just simple rest days for veterans, where everyone has one day off and the other day is a full participant. There is absolutely no need to worry about their week 14 availability.
Lewis has been showing up week in and week out with a forearm injury, but he’s not even limited in training because of it. He’s also unlikely to see the field while Poyer is healthy and playing, and while Benford is still out, the Bills have finally covered the cornerback position since the return of Tre’Davious White and the promotion of Xavier Rhodes. Lewis is most likely just a special team factor this week.
Bill’s injuries hold up
- OT Dion Dawkins (ankle)
- OT David Quessenberry (ankle)
While both Dawkins and Quessenberry (Dawkins reserve) have ankle injuries, they were more limited in practice than non-competants on both days. Dawkins was injured on Thanksgiving Day and said this week he had a high ankle sprain and was originally told it would be a three-week recovery. If you compare Dawkins to other ankle injuries we’ve seen this season, he’s shaping up more like Morse, who came back after just two weeks, than Greg Rousseau, who was out for the entire three weeks.
Dion Dawkins said his injury is a high ankle sprain and his initial recovery time was 3 tough weeks.
He was injured on November 24th.
This Jets game is very important but you have to be wondering if this is more of a warm up week or if they intend for him to play? https://t.co/Oej1l2DrQ6
— Bill’s Chat Podcast (@BillsChatPod) December 8, 2022
Quessenberry appeared to have injured his ankle on the first drive in Buffalo’s win over the New England Patriots last Thursday night. The fifth-year lineman pulled it out and finished the game, despite appearing in pain and struggling at times to keep up.
The few extra days of the mini bye might have been enough to get one of these guys back on the lineup. But honestly, at this point it’s anyone’s guess. At least they practice.
Bill’s injuries trended down
- FB Reggie Gilliam (ankle)
- DT Jordan Phillips (shoulder)
- LB Matt Milano (knee)
Exactly when Milano’s injury occurred was unclear, but when head coach Sean McDermott met with the media on Wednesday, he said the linebacker was battling a “leg/knee problem” and would not be training. Now Milano has missed a second day of training. The last time the Bills faced the Jets, Milano was inactive with an oblique injury, and the Bills defense gave up 174 yards on the ground, giving the Jets 32:44 of game time. While it’s possible Milano could train tomorrow and bid for an active spot on Sunday, things aren’t looking good for the sixth-year pro at the moment.
Phillips injured his shoulder while trying to sack quarterback Mac Jones in trash time in New England. Phillips slid down the backcourt before tucking his arm under himself and requiring medical attention. After the game it was reported that the defender had his right arm in a sling. No word has been given on the damage done to his shoulder but it’s unlikely – with only one day of training left – that we’ll see Phillips in uniform on Sunday.
Gilliam is absent again with one of the ankle injuries mentioned above. With no training at all this week, things are not looking good for the full-back. It should also be noted that Buffalo does not have a second full-back on their active roster or on their practice team.
We’ll update on what the Jets roster looks like when New York releases its injury report later this afternoon.
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