The Buffalo Bills made the always difficult decision of roster cut-downs to get to 53 players by 4 pm on August 27. Most of the cuts were not surprising, but part of the roster transactions was to place certain players on injured reserve before roster cutdowns. Even then, players such as Matt Milano were expected not to be ready for months, but others were interesting as to when they placed them on injured reserve.
Read below for all the injury updates coming out of roster cutdowns and potential timelines for return.
Injured Reserve- Season
S Terrel Burgess (Right Hamstring)
Burgess suffered a right hamstring injury on August 21 and could not practice or play in the final preseason game. I expect that he will receive an injury settlement and be released.
S Dee Delaney (Left Knee)
Delaney was placed on injured reserve after suffering a left knee injury in the final preseason game versus the Carolina Panthers. The extent of his injury is unknown but may be minor enough to warrant an injury settlement and potentially look for a new home.
OL Travis Clayton (Right Shoulder)
Clayton has been working through a right shoulder injury that dates back to at least July 26. He was observed with a shoulder brace on the next practice and then was unable to practice since then.
He was placed on injured reserve before roster cutdowns and it would not surprise me if we see him undergo surgery to repair a labrum or rotator cuff. The team even said as much as they were getting second and third opinions on the matter.
Considering he was going to spend the season on the practice squad as an exempt player, it didn’t change much for his outcome but this allows him to learn in the classroom as he adjusts to American football.
Injured Reserve- Can Return
LB Matt Milano (Left Biceps)
Brandon Beane confirmed last week that Milano underwent surgery to repair his biceps tendon tear on One Bills Live. On Tuesday, the team placed him on injured reserve with a designation to return indicating they at least believe he has a realistic shot to return this season. I’m not expecting to see any updates until late November when they may consider opening his practice window, but I expect it closer to December.
RB Darrynton Evans (Left Hamstring)
Evans was injured early in the second half of the final preseason game with a left hamstring strain after a short pass. He went down as though he had been shot suggesting a Grade 2 hamstring strain. The Bills believed that he would contribute to the team eventually and made him designated to return. Having six weeks to recover should provide enough time to heal and it’s possible by then running back injuries may force his return.
Injury Updates
WR Curtis Samuel (Turf Toe)
Samuel was back out at practice running through various drills at less than 100 percent speed on Wednesday. I don’t see him favoring one side over the other, but this is at least promising that he is ramping back up. He has another week to continue to rehab and rest which may provide him the opportunity to get close to 100 percent.
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Neck)
I’m surprised that MVS is back out there without a red non-contact jersey running through drills. This at least indicates that his neck sprain is on the mend but I believed that he would require more time off. The team could change their mind and place him on injured reserve if he has a setback at any point, but I was not expecting him to be out there as soon as he was.
CB Taron Johnson (Quad)
Johnson began missing practice on August 22 and has not been seen since with the team designating the injury as quad soreness. Hopefully, this is nothing more than the team protecting one of its top defensive assets.
S Cole Bishop (Left Shoulder)
Bishop continues to participate in practice with a red non-contact jersey as he ramps up from his suspected left scapular fracture. He appears on track to be potentially ready to play Week 1 if the bone is healing
LB Baylon Spector (Right Calf)
Spector returned to practice after being out since August 15 with a right calf injury. Fortunately, he did not have to start the season on injured reserve and should be good to go by Week 1.
TE Quintin Morris (Right Shoulder)
Morris was observed in a red non-contact jersey on August 28 as he worked through various drills. He did not wear a shoulder harness but considering the red jersey, he would not have needed it. I do expect him to wear a shoulder harness and still miss time here and there if his shoulder were to sublux.
QB Mitch Trubisky (Left Knee)
While it’s incredibly positive that Trubisky has returned to practice, he does not look like the type of player who will be ready to step on a football field in Week 1. If Mike White can get up to speed quickly enough, then Trubisky could go to IR.
He still has incredible difficulty stepping into his throws and can barely bend the knee. I am sure without the sleeve on his knee, his knee is the size of a cantaloupe and barely has any mobility available. Should the Bills need a roster spot before Week 1, he would be the first player they could put on IR in the coming days as he continues to recover. His presence at practice is not something to be taken as a step in the right direction. Rather, it should be taken as proof that he should be on IR to be allowed to heal from his high-grade MCL sprain.
OL Will Clapp (Concussion)
Clapp returned to practice on August 29, appearing to pass through the concussion protocol after suffering his head injury last week on August 20.
S Damar Hamlin (Left Hamstring)
Hamlin returned to practice on August 29 after suffering the injury in the joint practice with the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 15.
S Mike Edwards (Right Hamstring)
Edward continues to ramp up his participation, still wearing the compression sleeve on his right leg as he works to return from his right hamstring strain suffered on July 28.
Final Thoughts
The injury list is getting shorter and the Buffalo Bills are still being conservative on injury management both short and long-term. It’s smart to use the IR designate to return but they didn’t load up injured reserve either with guys who could eventually return after roster cutdowns. After seeing how the last two seasons have been, they are wise to not force roster moves if they don’t need to. The last thing they need to do is place guys on IR that they can’t bring back or have to choose between come late season. We will get to see what the injury report looks like on Wednesday when they get back from their Labor Day weekend.
Top Photo Credit: Buffalo Rumblings
