The Buffalo Bills host the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon in Orchard Park as they look to move to 12-3 on the season. Due to the scheduling quirk, this is the first of two meetings against the New England Patriots over a three week span. Overall, this game doesn’t mean much as the Bills have locked up the division which assures them playoffs, but the Bills are still fighting for the one seed in the hopes that Kansas City stumbles down the stretch.
In addition, the Patriots would love to steal a win and prove they are not as poor as their record indicates this season. A win would bolster head coach Jerod Mayo’s message in the locker room and potentially help several young players prove why they need to come back next season. It really is a weird dynamic how this used to be a game Bills fans would dread, but since Tom Brady left, the Bills have dominated the series even when Bill Belichick was at the helm. Now it is seen as a highly likely win in the march towards the division and hopefully deep playoff run.
Read below for the injury reports for both teams along with projected inactives and analysis.
Buffalo Bills Injury Report
QUESTIONABLE
CB Rasul Douglas (Left Knee)
After suffering what appeared to be a left knee injury trying to guard Cooper Kupp against the Rams back in Week 14, he was unable to practice all last week, ruled out Sunday. He was able to return as a limited participant all week. He appeared to be moving fine in practice and without any hesitations. By video, he looked to suffer an MCL sprain on the left side when Kupp fell on him.
Considering the knee injury and how he’s moving in the video above, this could be an instance where he plays if this was the playoffs like he did last year. But if this is an MCL sprain, taking another week off to make sure he can cut and jump wouldn’t be the worst thing considering the depth available.
S Damar Hamlin (Rib)
Hamlin was a surprise inactive last week after being on the injury report with a back and rib injury. He returned to practice as a limited participant this week but without any non-contact jerseys on.
Considering he had a week off, I expect that Hamlin is able to play this week.
LB Matt Milano (Biceps/Groin)
Milano still requires regular rehab on his left bicep tear despite returning to play back in Week 13. It will still be several more months before he is truly 100 percent which explains why he is still on the report. As for his groin, it wasn’t clear how he injured the groin, he appeared to stumble and left late in the third quarter.
He did not return to the game and was limited all week with a groin injury. On Thursday, he looked to be moving well indicating that his removal from the game on Sunday may have been more precautionary.
There is still a higher chance that Milano could have an early exit should he aggravate the groin come Sunday, especially in the cold temperatures. With him being questionable, I’d only play him in limited reps if you’re worried about his conditioning for the playoffs. Have him active but use as a backup option.
S Taylor Rapp (Neck)
Rapp missed last week’s game with a neck injury after playing through the issue the week prior against the Rams. It’s not clear the exact issue with the neck why it appeared to worsen for last week, but he was able to return to practice this week.
Considering it is a neck injury, watching him move in practice doesn’t tell us much, but it’s important to note that he didn’t have a green non-contact jersey on this week.
This neck injury is lingering and we don’t know what symptoms he has. That’s why this makes it tough to know whether he plays. He’s still a true questionable and if there’s any doubt, then he should be sat.
WR Curtis Samuel (Rib)
Samuel left last week’s game briefly with what was initially reported as a shoulder issue before he later returned in the third quarter. He was designated as a rib injury this week suggesting that there is at least a contusion to potentially the left side of the area.
He reportedly did not have a non-contact jersey on which suggests that he is trending towards playing. If it’s a contusion or rib fracture, they could inject the area for pain relief and pad the area. Considering how he fell, it’s more likely bone than cartilage which means he should suit up.
LB Dorian Williams (Left Elbow)
Williams appeared to suffer an elbow hyperextension late in the second quarter which led to his quiet exit on Sunday. He was initially questionable to return and only did once Matt Milano was forced to exit with his own injury. He returned with his elbow heavily taped, suggesting an elbow hyperextension with the video confirming the suspicion.
He was limited on Wednesday and Thursday but appears on track to play based on what we saw him doing in practice on Thursday. He was wearing a hinged elbow brace under his sweats but looked to be moving well.
His availability will come down to how well he can wrap up tackles and deal with any swelling. Considering Milano and Spector are questionable, I would expect Williams to play.
LB Baylon Spector (Calf)
Spector is once again back on the injury report for his nagging calf injury dating back to training camp. I haven’t been able to confirm whether this was the same one from training camp, but it’s very possible.
It was reported that he injured the calf late during Thursday’s practice which doesn’t bode well for his chances to play in the cold weather especially now that this injury is nagging. I would expect he sits to give it at least a week off.
ACTIVE
OT Spencer Brown (Neck)
Brown is on the injury report for a neck injury suffered late in the fourth quarter after a run to the right where he took a hit to his head, appearing to suffer a stinger. Following the injury, trainers were rubbing out the left side of his back before he came off the field. Looking back at the film, Brown’s pads were jacked up for this game and back in Week 14, suggesting there may have been some type of prior neck issue potentially suffered back in Week 13.
DT DeWayne Carter (Wrist)
Carter continues to rehab his right wrist following surgery to repair a ligament from his Week 7 injury. While he has returned to play, he appears to be still acclimating and has not been as effective as he was prior to the injury.
WR Amari Cooper (Left Wrist)
Cooper still requires regular rehab and wearing a cast on his left hand during games due to a wrist injury suffered back in Week 8 against the Seattle Seahawks. At this point, I am pretty confident that he is playing through a TFCC tear in his wrist based on how he injured the wrist, how much time he has missed, and how they’ve managed the injury since then. He has still been effective even after not getting a target last week. It’s not clear whether he will require surgery in the offseason, but he will continue to manage this.
TE Dalton Kincaid (Left Knee)
Kincaid returned to play after missing three games and four weeks after suffering what appeared to be a PCL sprain in his left knee in Week 10 against the Indianapolis Colts. He played last week with a hinged brace and did not appear limited in his routes, playing 49 percent of snaps. I expect him to continue to ramp up over the next few games for the playoffs.
TE Quintin Morris (Shoulder/Groin)
Morris continues to work through his right shoulder injury from the preseason and he is still dealing with his groin strain suffered back in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers. He missed the Week 14 game against the Los Angeles Rams but returned last week. He remains largely a special teams contributor with occasional appearances on offense.
DE Dawuane Smoot (Right Wrist)
Smoot surprisingly returned to play last week after missing five games after suffering a right wrist injury against the Miami Dolphins in Week 9. He underwent surgery for a suspected distal radius fracture and was placed on injured reserve. He was able to play 37 percent of the snaps which is about 20 percent less than his normal snaps for the season, but I expect him to increase his workload this week.
New England Patriots Injury Report
OUT
RB JaMycal Hasty (Ankle)
Hasty is a new addition to the injury report this week after suffering an ankle injury sometime during Sunday’s loss. He played in two offensive snaps and eight special teams snaps. He was ruled out on Friday.
CB Marcus Jones (Hip)
Jones has been on and off the injury report during the season but is back on for a hip injury suffered on Sunday. He was unable to practice all week and has been ruled out for Sunday.
QUESTIONABLE
S Jabrill Peppers (Hamstring)
Peppers popped back up on the injury report for a hamstring injury on Friday and was limited. He was on the injury report three weeks ago in Week 13, was questionable but played.
S Kyle Dugger (Ankle/Illness)
After not practicing on Wednesday due to illness, Dugger returned to practice on Thursday as a limited participant. He has been battling this ankle injury all season with Evan Lazar of the New England Patriots confirming this is a high-ankle sprain on the Cover 1 Buffalo show.
He has played in most games with the exception of Week 5 and Weeks 8-10.
OL Cole Strange (Left Knee)
Strange is still working back from his left patellar tendon tear suffered in Week 15 last year. He was added back to the roster last week but has yet to make his season debut.
DE Keion White (Groin)
White picked up a groin injury in practice on Friday and was limited.
ACTIVE
LB Jahlani Tavai (Groin)
Tavai is working through a groin strain suffered Sunday after playing 79 percent of the defensive snaps and 52 percent of the special teams snaps.
DE Deatrich Wise Jr (Foot)
Wise is still working through a foot injury originally suffered back in Week 10, forcing him out of the following two games before returning to play in Week 13.
CB Christian Gonzalez (Shoulder)
Gonzalez continues to work through a shoulder injury suffered in Week 14 but was able to play in 96 percent of snaps indicating this may be a maintenance issue.
LB Anfernee Jennings (Knee)
Jennings has been on and off the injury report dealing with a knee injury indicating this is a chronic issue. He only missed one game back in Week 4 but has been a steady participant on defense.
OT Vederian Lowe (Shoulder)
Lowe is still battling a shoulder injury dating back to Week 9 but has not missed any games. He has been beat up all season but is trying to finish the season on a high note.
INJURED RESERVE
OT Caedan Wallace (Left Ankle)
Wallace is still in his 21-day practice window after suffering what appeared to be a severe high-ankle sprain. He is working his way back into shape and would need to be activated to the roster to play.
Considering Christian Barmore is back on NFI, this would allow the Patriots to move him to the active roster without cutting anyone.
NON-FOOTBALL INJURY
DT Christian Barmore (Blood Clots)
Barmore had a new onset of symptoms from his blood clots this summer that placed him on the NFI list, forcing him out of training camp and the first 10 games of the season. Whether his clotting factors in his blood were up or he had a new incidence of blood clots, he was placed back on NFI and is essentially done for the season.
Buffalo Bills Projected Inactives
LB Baylon Spector
DT Quinton Jefferson
CB Rasul Douglas
DE Javon Solomon
OT Ryan Van Demark
New England Patriots Projected Inactives
CB Marcus Jones
RB JaMycal Hasty
DE Keion White
S Jabrill Peppers
G Tyrese Robinson
QB Joe Milton
Call up: WR Alex Erickson
Final Thoughts
The Bills have to go out and take care of business. The Patriots are objectively an inferior team but have a lot of pride to play for. This is not a game where all the backups can play and we still win 42-14, but could be an opportunity to help players reach certain benchmarks for contract incentives and give playing time to depth players once the game is in hand.
As long as the Bills control the trenches and stick to their game plan, then they can get out with a win and stay in the hunt for the number one seed. The only thing that could ruin Sunday is injuries but the training staff has been smart in managing these injuries and while new ones can’t be prevented, managing player workloads can help reduce the chances.
Let’s hope for an entertaining, injury free game as we march closer to the playoffs.
Top Photo Credit: Vox Media
