Monday marks the 20th meeting all-time between the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars with the Jaguars holding a 10-9 lead and 2-0 record in the postseason. While not common opponents, the Bills have always struggled with the Jaguars, often trading wins back and forth over the years. The Bills did have a three game win streak between 1998 and 2003 and back-to-back wins in 2012-2013. However, the Jaguars have beaten the Bills in their last two meetings with ugly losses in both Jacksonville and London.
Despite coming in 0-2, with a win, the Jaguars would get back into the win column and get their first three-game winning streak over the Bills in the series. While Jacksonville is missing CB Tyson Campbell due to a hamstring strain currently on injured reserve, they appear to be the healthier team heading into the Week 3 matchup.
The Bills have relied on their depth early this season due to injuries which have shined through and have helped maintain stability at 2-0.
Read below for a full injury analysis for both teams along with projected inactives and final thoughts.
BUFFALO BILLS INJURY REPORT
OUT
LB Terrel Bernard (Left Pectoral)
Bernard was ruled out following his left pectoral strain suffered late in the second quarter against Miami in Week 2. The team hasn’t decided as to whether to place him on injured reserve, but based on the fact that he is walking around at practice without a sling or any reported guarding of the area suggests that he may be pointed in the right direction.
It looks as though he is avoiding injured reserve which means I could see a scenario where he returns in three games and has to wear a shoulder harness to avoid aggravating the area. However, we do have to see him return to practice to see how he responds. For more information, click the link below.
CB Taron Johnson (Right Forearm)
Johnson is set to miss his second consecutive game after suffering a right forearm injury after teammate S Taylor Rapp hit him on a tackle early in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals. The team did not elect to place him on injured reserve and he does not have a cast on the area, likely ruling out a fracture.
At this point, he either has a lot of diffuse soft tissue damage or a nerve injury that requires time to heal. Nerve injuries typically require longer times to heal based on the level of damage to the area with varying levels of severity. Cam Lewis and Ja’Marcus Ingram are holding things down until Johnson returns with a brace to protect the area.
ACTIVE
QB Josh Allen (Left Hand)
Allen continues to practice in full following his left-hand injury in Week 1 when his right elbow smashed into his left hand. He has worn a glove and taped up the ring and middle fingers to protect the area. This continues to present as a sprain to the area and while it is tender, he will continue to play through it. His quarterback runs will continue to be limited and his handoffs should improve, but it may be another week or two before he ditches the glove.
DE Dawaune Smoot (Toe)
Smoot has yet to make his Buffalo Bills debut after suffering a turf toe injury during the Thursday practice before Week 1. He was able to return to practice this week in a limited role increasing his workload though still not quite appearing 100 percent.
While he does not have a designation heading into Week 3, he may still be used in a reserve role to not aggravate the area and stick to one side of the line to rush. I’m curious to see his snap count and usage come Monday.
DE Javon Solomon (Oblique)
Solomon continued to ramp up his practice participating with limited designations on Thursday and Friday after suffering an oblique injury shortly after roster cut down days.
Typically oblique injuries have not kept players out more than a week or two, the fact that Week 1 and 2 were so close together along with his positional demands and a rookie helps explain why he’s been out long. Even when he does make his NFL debut this weekend, I expect to see his workload limited so as to not aggravate the healing tissue.
RB Ty Johnson (Knee)
Johnson continues to work through a knee injury suffered in the third quarter in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals. He saw less playing time on both offense and special teams last week but this may have been more to game plan versus injury.
TE Quintin Morris (Right Shoulder)
Morris continues to require rehab as he works back from his labrum tear suffered against the Steelers in the preseason. He has not appeared to have any setbacks yet but he is wearing a shoulder harness to protect the area.
DE Casey Toohill (Knee)
Toohill suffered a rather nondescript knee injury late in the first quarter shortly after Terrel Bernard exited the game. He got tied up on a run to the right and fell down, forcing him to exit the game. He only missed several infield before returning with under a minute in the first quarter.
He was limited Thursday before getting full practices in Friday and Saturday indicating it’s not a big issue.
QB Mitch Trubisky (Left Knee)
Trubisky continues to require the use of a hinged knee brace after suffering a left MCL sprain against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the preseason. While it has been a month, he still has a few more weeks before he is healthy enough to ditch the brace. Josh Allen has been able to mostly stay healthy keeping Trubisky on the bench.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS INJURY REPORT
OUT
TE Evan Engram (Hamstring)
Engram suffered a hamstring strain during Week 2 pregame warmups immediately after inactives were announced forcing him to miss the game. There aren’t any reports as to which side he injured but having eight days to return from even a mild hamstring strain isn’t long enough to return to play without risking reinjury.
Not practicing all week and with head coach Doug Pederson’s comments, it further cemented him missing his second consecutive game. This would have been hard for a skill player such as tight end who needs to catch passes and block to play through, especially early in the season.
On Saturday, the team officially ruled him out.
QUESTIONABLE
RB Tank Bigsby (Shoulder)
Bigsby took a massive shot to his right shoulder on a kickoff return midway through the second quarter in Week 2 as seen below.
While he took the shot to his right shoulder, he did land on his left elbow which could have injured the shoulder then. After the hit, he wasn’t involved in the offense for the remainder of the game. However, it has been reported that he is ok and will play on Monday.
I would expect he gets more work on special teams and works back on on offense as the game plan allows.
CB Darnell Savage (Quad)
Savage suffered a quad injury in practice ahead of Week 2, missing practice Thursday and Friday before missing the game. He was able to return to practice as limited this week and is officially questionable.
The severity of the injury is not known but if this is a strain and he was limited all week, I would expect that he sits out one more game to be closer to 100 percent for Week 4.
ACTIVE
OL Cam Robinson (Knee)
Robinson has been on and off the injury report the last two weeks with a knee injury, participating with a limited designation. There doesn’t appear to be any specific new injury, but Robinson has dealt with his share of knee injuries including a left ACL tear in 2018 and another injury late last season that sent him to injured reserve. He also suffered a meniscus tear to his right knee in 2022 that cost him some time.
Buffalo Bills Projected Inactives
LB Terrel Bernard
CB Taron Johnson
OT Ryan Van Demark
LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
C Sedrick Van-Pran Granger
Jacksonville Jaguars Projected Inactives
TE Evan Engram
OL Cole Van Laren
OL Javon Foster
DL Tyler Lacy
DL Jordan Jefferson
CB Darnell Savage
Call up: TE Jacob Deguara
Final Thoughts
The Bills have the opportunity to put the Jaguars into an 0-3 hole that they may not be able to dig out of this season. Buffalo is the better team on paper and playing at home on Monday night should allow them to assert their dominance in both the AFC East and the conference. There is a high chance of rain which could make the field slick and reduce injuries, but Buffalo has nearly every advantage heading into this game and should win.
As always, I am hoping for a good game with minimal injuries.
Top Photo Credit: USA Today
