Week 10 Bills Injury Review- Browns

Well, this is awkward. I was expecting to write about how the Buffalo Bills earned yet another win to move to 7-2 over the lowly Cleveland Browns. Yet, they are now 6-3 with a ton of questions, questions that I don’t have the answers. On top of this, there weren’t any publically reported injuries during Sunday’s game which is unique in that rarely does a team enter a game fully “healthy” & exit the same. The only difference is that the Bills leave Cleveland with a loss.

Here I am, Banged Up Bills, a Buffalo Bills injury based site & I have no new injuries to discuss. But I will soldier on because when I mention “healthy”, there are still several players dealing with injury that are cleared to play. To note, McDermott did not note any injuries following Monday’s press conference.

OT Cody Ford (left elbow) 

The rookie tackle from Oklahoma played only 4 special teams snaps last week during the win over the Redskins after being listed as questionable heading into the game. This may have been by design, but considering that the team resumed their rotation between Nsekhe & Ford, this shows that Ford’s injury appeared to be more severe than I had originally anticipated. The snap counts didn’t show anything out of the ordinary, though Nsekhe once again won the numbers battle, 60% to 40%.

Ford may be dealing with a UCL sprain considering the hit he took against the Eagles late in the game. He could play through this as he doesn’t really have to put strain through his elbow like someone who throws the ball would deal with. The compression sleeve & hinge bracing may allow him to play while avoiding stress to the healing ligament. It will be interesting to note if he ditches the brace in the coming weeks, but he may wear it as another form of protection as it continues to get colder. 

There is also a possibility that he has elbow bursitis due to the hit, but there is more swelling & loss of range of motion associated with this injury. It’s unlikely that he would have a hinged brace with this, but as we don’t have the specific information, there is only speculation. 

CB Kurt Coleman (left hamstring)

Coleman returned to the fold this week after missing the last 2 games after suffering the injury against Miami. As expected, he did not appear to miss a step & was a contributor on special teams along with several defensive snaps. Coleman continues to be the latest example of the talent of this training staff to ensure players are fully healthy returning from soft tissue injuries. 

CB Kevin Johnson (left knee)

Johnson briefly appeared on the injury report Wednesday with a knee injury following the win against Washington. It’s possible he may have suffered a minor hyperextension of his knee after getting tripped up during a routine punt. He didn’t appear to be out of place with his contributions on special teams or his availability on defense according to the numbers.

WR Duke Williams (right shoulder)

Williams has now been inactive the past 2 games after suffering what appeared to be a right AC joint sprain during a hard fall following a catch in the Miami game. He did play in the loss to the Eagles, garnering 2 targets with 1 catch for 6 yards. Considering he is essentially a rookie despite having several years of experience in the CFL, I believe that he is inactive due to his inexperience in the NFL passing game compared to WR Isaiah McKenzie & WR Robert Foster. Recalling, Williams was a feel-good story but started the year on the practice squad. Due to the entire roster being healthy, someone has to sit & Williams is closer to the 53rd roster spot than McKenzie or Foster. I believe his time will come as inevitable injuries rear its ugly head. 

CB Levi Wallace (left shoulder)

Wallace suffered a left shoulder injury after getting run over by RB Boston Scott in the loss to the Eagles. Despite suffering a painful contusion, he did not miss anytime but his play appears to be more suspect over the last 2 weeks. I do not believe that he is limited by the shoulder, but rather his actual abilities as a player. This coaching staff does favor veterans over younger players but will give preference to individuals that have been in their system over guys like CB Kevin Johnson. If Wallace’s play does not improve soon, I wonder when the hook will come because getting burned like he does continue to create unfavorable matchups during this upcoming stretch of games. 

The Bills are healthy now with a 6-3 record; imagine how bad it would be if they were rife with injury & did not have the depth available. Regardless of the current health status of the roster, the quality of play & offensive production must improve in order to have any type of shot at making the playoffs, much less actually winning a game. We’ll have to see how this pans out with the Bills going to balmy Miami with a very winnable game against the Dolphins.