The 2-0 Buffalo Bills host the 0-2 Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football in Week 3. Despite the difference in records, both teams will still expected to play a competitive game as most divisional games tend to be. Buffalo will be looking to move to 2-0 in the division and 3-0 overall while Miami is searching for their first win and potentially save Mike McDaniel’s job as his seat has warmed over various reports about the locker room and his ability to lead
Both teams come in with injuries to key players and with several on injured reserve already. Read below for a full injury analysis on both teams and projected inactives.
BUFFALO BILLS INJURY REPORT
OUT
LB Matt Milano (Right Pectoral Strain)
Milano was ruled out on Wednesday during Sean McDermott’s weekly radio appearance on WGR550.
Here is a clip of the play regarding how the injury happened as he fell and landed with his arm outstretched with most of his weight on the right side.
He was observed on the sidelines by beat reporters with an arm brace on as noted below in the broadcast. It looked as though he was available to play if called upon. The fact that he also did not have an in-game designation was promising.
How he fell was a less common way for the pectoral muscle to be strained as we typically see an eccentric contraction occur. This presents as an extended arm as a ball carrier runs away from the tackle, a block being maintained and the arm being hit from inside and forced outside. He does brace the fall with his arms as we are apt to do but I’m wondering if he doesn’t have additional damage that they want to see how he responds to rehab first.
I had originally thought a rotator cuff strain or even posterior labrum could be involved and still could be, but we will get additional information in the coming days and weeks. I’m anticipating that he misses Week 4 and even potentially Week 5. I’ll be surprised if he ends up on injured reserve.
When he does return, he’ll be wearing a shoulder harness he wore when he injured his left pectoral and left biceps in different seasons.
DT Ed Oliver (Left Ankle)
Oliver will miss his second consecutive game with a left ankle injury after having it stepped on during practice on September 10. He is still in a walking boot walking around the facility as of September 16.
We don’t have exact details to the exact injury but I am still suspecting a high-ankle sprain based on the fact that they said he was stepped on. Once he begins practicing, we will have a better idea of how he will perform. This isn’t all that surprising given that he is only a week out from the original injury but hopefully the mini-bye will help with healing and provide a better timeline.
QUESTIONABLE
CB Taron Johnson (Quad)
After missing Sunday’s game after trying to get ready during the pregame warmup, Johnson appears to be ready to return to play after suffering the quad injury in Week 1.
He originally did not know how he injured the quad, not feeling it until the Tuesday following Week 1. He had anticipated playing but sat out because something didn’t feel right. Despite the matchup, I still expect Johnson to go after he said as much and if he was close on Sunday, I’d expect a few more days off only increased his chances for Thursday.
CB Cam Lewis (Shoulder)
Lewis was limited all week wearing a red non-contact jersey as he worked back from his shoulder injury from Week 2. He has been wearing a shoulder brace on his right shoulder dating back to August 3. It’s not clear if this is the same shoulder that he injured but it looked as though he suffered a left shoulder injury during Sunday’s game prior to leaving with a right ankle injury.
He was moving around alright at practice on Tuesday but with the red non-contact jersey on.
I could see the Bills sitting him and allows a player like Jordan Hancock to get NFL reps in place while Lewis recovers from whatever ailment he is working through.
LB Shaq Thompson (Right Hamstring/Right Hand)
Thompson was spotted at practice with a ton of tape on his right hamstring after aggravating the injury in Week 1 playing special teams. However, it’s not clear when he tweaked the muscle
He also suffered a right hand injury, specifically the 4th and 5th digits as they were taped up as he went through drills.
It’s entirely possible that he broke his fingers and below appears to be the play that caused it. It looked as though he attempted to punch the ball out on the kickoff return and came up afterward holding the hand close.
He can play through the hand injury, it’s just whether the hamstring will let him. Considering Matt Milano is out, Thompson may be pressed into service.
ACTIVE
CB Jordan Hancock (Right Shoulder)
Hancock was able to practice in full all week and without a red non-contact jersey. He likely was still working through a stinger that originally cropped up against the Chicago Bears in the preseason. These are issues that date back to his time at Ohio State.
I expect that he will still have his shoulder taped up but could see his NFL debut this weekend.
Other Observations
QB Josh Allen (Nose)
Despite not being on the injury report due to his nose injury, there are still several updates. Allen has bruising and swelling around where he was hit.
He states that he will be wearing a visor for at least the next game.
There is a real likelihood that he broke his nose but we have seen plenty of times where Josh Allen should be missing time but doesn’t. If the boss is broken, there is a great post on Reddit from an ENT that describes the possible issues and interventions that arise from trauma to the nose.
MIAMI DOLPHINS INJURY REPORT
OUT
S Ifeatu Melifonwu (Calf)
Melifonwu is a new addition to the injury report this week with a calf injury sustained in Week 2 on a kickoff return for a touchdown. He was unable to practice all week and considering the soft tissue injury and short week, it would have been incredibly difficult for him to play.
CB Storm Duck (Left Ankle)
Duck has been battling injuries every week so far this season, dealing with a hip injury in Week 1 before suffering an ankle injury in Week 2.
Following the loss to the Colts, it was reported that he would be out several weeks after Colts TE Tyler Warren and Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks fell onto Ducks left ankle as the foot was pinned to the ground. This sounds as though this is a high-ankle sprain which would explain the extended absence.
He was unable to practice all week and was ruled out.
TE Darren Waller (Hip)
Waller has been working through a hip strain suffered on September 2nd as he worked his way back into shape after his year-long retirement. He began practice August 20 and appeared on track to play in Week 1 before the setback.
He was limited this week but eventually ruled out on Wednesday.
QUESTIONABLE
WR Jaylen Waddle (Left Shoulder)
Waddle has been working through a left shoulder injury originally suffered in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts as seen below.
He was on the injury report all last week before getting a full practice on Friday. He then reappeared on Tuesday and Wednesday as a limited participant with the shoulder listed as questionable. He has played through plenty of injuries already and has still been productive which means I expect him to still be a threat in the passing game.
DT Benito Jones (Oblique)
Jones missed Week 2 after suffering an oblique injury in Week 1 in the loss to the Indianapolis Colts. He was unable to practice all week and was ruled out. Fortunately, he was able to get a limited practice in on Monday and Tuesday and according to Mike McDaniel, is doing everything possible to play on Thursday.
If he does play, he will have a high chance to injure his oblique as defensive tackles have to engage their blocks immediately and look to create leverage by driving their assignment backwards or throwing them off to the side. Over rotating or lateral flexing while trying to create an opening could leave Jones to exit early.
DE Chop Robinson (Left Knee)
Robinson had an injury scare in the fourth quarter when New England Patriots OT Morgan Moses banged into his knee as the result of a cut block. He initially thought that he had a significant injury but after getting checked out he was able to finish the game.
Despite the limited practices all week, I do expect Robinson to suit up and play Thursday.
ACTIVE
RB Jaylen Wright (Knee)
Wright underwent a “small procedure” on his leg sometime in the last week of August after suffering the injury sometime before the final preseason game. It isn’t clear what the procedure was but it’s likely that this was some sort of cartilage or meniscus trim and he needed several weeks to get back.
He missed the first two weeks but was close to playing last week according to head coach Mike McDaniel.
I expect Wright to play but split snaps with De’Von Achane to prevent him from getting overworked and reinjuring his calf from the preseason.
CB Ethan Bonner (Hamstring)
Bonner has missed the first two games of the season working back from a hamstring strain after originally suffering the injury in mid-August. He has seen most of his playing time exclusively on special teams over his two years in the league.
OL Aaron Brewer (Hip)
Brewer picked up a hip injury in Week 2 though it isn’t clear what the exact injury is. Practicing on a short week isn’t ideal for whatever the ailment is but according to McDaniel, Brewer will make every effort to play.
WR Malik Washington (Thumb)
Washington popped up on the injury report this week with a thumb injury, limited Monday and Tuesday before getting a full practice in on Wednesday. He has said that he expects to suit up on Thursday.
He will get much of his work on special teams but also see some snaps on offense though may have difficulty catching the ball.
Buffalo Bills Projected Inactives
DT Ed Oliver
LB Matt Milano
DE Landon Jackson
OL Chase Lundt
CB Cam Lewis
WR Curtis Samuel
OL Ryan Van Demark
Call Up: DT Phidarian Mathis, LB Jimmy Ciarlo
Miami Dolphins Projected Inactives
CB Storm Duck
S Ifeatu Melifonwu
TE Darren Waller
QB Quinn Ewers
CB Jason Marshall Jr
Final Thoughts
The betting line as of publication is -12.5 Bills which doesn’t bode well for the Dolphins chances to win. Upsets do happen but it would take a lot for the Bills to lose this game based on how things look right now.
The Dolphins have a strong rushing and passing attack but that’s if the offensive line can do their job. They’re currently missing OT Austin Jackson (Toe) and James Daniels (Pectoral) both on injured reserve. The Dolphins would be best served to be incredibly aggressive, borderline reckless to challenge the Bills defense to catch them off guard especially with missing Ed Oliver and Matt Milano.
The Bills are beatable under the right circumstances but the Dolphins are vulnerable right now if the game script begins to fall apart.
I’m hoping for a competitive game and minimal injuries.
Top Photo Credit: Associated Press
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