Buffalo Bills football is back!! On Sunday, September 8, Bills Mafia will go to Highmark Stadium to watch the latest iteration of the Bills start their march towards a long awaited Super Bowl.
After a tumultuous preseason where over half of the team dealt with some sort of injury, the training staff appeared to get things under control. The injury report is far cleaner than it had been during the preseason and many injured players appear to be heading in the right direction.
Below are the injury reports for each team heading into Week 1 along with projected inactives and final thoughts.
Buffalo Bills Injury Report
OUT
DE Javon Solomon (Oblique)
One of the only new injuries, Solomon was working through an oblique injury suffered sometime within the past week. He practiced in full to our knowledge on August 28 and then the Bills were off until then. Whether this happened that day or over the weekend is anyone’s guess outside of the team.
Considering the bend and twist a defensive end needs to perform coming off the edge, I’m not certain Solomon would be effective even in a limited role. I would expect that he returns to practice in a limited role next week and has the possibility of playing knowing the mini bye is on the other side. He was unable to practice all week and was ruled out on Friday.
QUESTIONABLE
DE Dawaune Smoot (Toe)
Smoot was added to the injury report with a toe designation after appearing to suffer the injury on Thursday. He did not practice on Friday and is officially questionable. From my experience, most toe injuries are turf toe, but not necessarily every single one.
Last season, Shaq Lawson suffered a toe injury in the final practice before the Week 5 game versus the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. He did not suit up as a result. Most other toe issues have had players play through the injury, though they had nearly a full week to recover. Considering the late addition to the injury report, it’s not optimistic that Smoot plays.
If he does somehow play, I expect him to be limited to certain packages such as stopping the run and limited to only one side to avoid pushing off the affected toe. Otherwise, I expect Kingsley Jonathan or even Kameron Cline to be called up.
Update: Smoot was downgraded to out.
ACTIVE
QB Mitch Trubisky (Left Knee)
Trubisky was limited on Wednesday as he works back from his suspected left MCL knee sprain suffered against the Pittsburgh Steelers. While it’s promising that he was listed as a limited participant, I was not hopeful that he is ready to play based on previous video walking around the field.
He does look better in the video below from Wednesday’s practice, but still is clearly not 100 percent.
In fact, he was even running in a straight line, albeit, not sprinting but while that is an improvement, we have not seen him cut.
Ideally, Josh Allen doesn’t get injured and Trubisky isn’t even needed, but the Bills would be smart to elevate Mike White from the practice squad until Trubisky is more mobile and healthier. Despite my pessimism, Trubisky will be the backup to Josh Allen on Sunday.
S Cole Bishop (Left Shoulder)
Bishop returns to practicing in full for the first time since July 30 when he suffered his suspected left scapular fracture. He was able to practice the last two weeks in a red non-contact jersey before participating in tackling drills on Wednesday.
While physically he appears ready to play, the only reason why he wouldn’t would be if he isn’t ready mentally without the physical reps within the offense. However, he has no designation and should make his NFL debut on Sunday.
TE Quintin Morris (Right Shoulder)
Morris returned to practice in full on Wednesday after he was limited last week in a red non-contact jersey. His original injury came as the result of a right shoulder injury suffered against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the preseason. The concern was that he suffered a labrum injury and this is further confirmed with the use of a shoulder harness as noted below.
While this is an injury he can play through, the concern is if he has any further subluxations or outright dislocations. He may eventually need surgery, but I can understand why he wants to play through the injury before he is forced out. While he does not have a designation, the Bills could afford to have him sit one more week and let Reggie Gilliam take blocking duties as TE3.
WR Curtis Samuel (Turf Toe)
Samuel returned to practicing in full on Wednesday after he was limited last week with a turf toe injury. This issue dates back to August 12 and he has been out since then. By the time Week 1 kicks off, he will have had 26 days to recover and limit his workload to rest the area. He may be close to fully healed and with a stiff sole in his shoe to protect the area, he may very well avoid aggravation by playing. O
There still is the opportunity for him to reinjure it through falling on the toe or having someone fall on his foot, but a lesser concern than simply running on the injury before it has had time to heal.
Arizona Cardinals Injury Report
OUT
WR Xavier Weaver (Oblique)
Weaver “nicked” his oblique late last week before the mandated Labor Day break and was unable to practice all week. He has been ruled out for Sunday.
QUESTIONABLE
TE Tip Reiman (Ankle)
Reiman had been out with an undisclosed issue dating back to as early as August 26 that was since revealed as an ankle issue. Considering Reiman is more of a blocking tight end, he may not be a huge impact on the game come Sunday. He is questionable after limited participation all week and may be a game time decision.
S Joey Blount (Back)
Blount was a late addition to the injury report with a back designation, not practicing on Thursday before getting in a limited designation Friday. As he is a backup, I would expect they call someone up to replace him on the roster for Week 1.
Buffalo Bills Projected Inactives
DE Javon Solomon
DE Dawaune Smoot
LB Joe Andreessen
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
S Mike Edwards
TE Quintin Morris
Call Up: DE Kingsley Jonathan
Arizona Cardinals Projected Inactives
WR Xavier Weaver
RB DeeJay Dallas
TE Tip Reiman
S Joey Blount
LB Jesse Luketa
Final Thoughts
While the Bills have the injury disadvantage heading into this game, they do have the advantage of this being the home opener and a deeper and more talented team. Week 1 won’t define the season and even if the Bills lose this one, it is a non-conference opponent.
Whatever the outcome of the game is, the goal is to escape with little to no injuries so they can be ready for a quick turnaround in Week 2 against the Miami Dolphins. It’s highly beneficial to get these quick turnaround games out of the way early on in case of injury issues later in the season.
Here’s to another great, injury free season, GO BILLS!
Top Photo Credit: WGRZ
