The Buffalo Bills host the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football in their Rivalries game featuring their new white jerseys. The plan is for the team to hand out rally towels and create a white out environment similar to Penn State’s White Out.
Despite the hype behind the marketing arm of this game, this is another divisional game between the Bills and Patriots with the tides beginning to turn the Bills way in recent years. The Bills are 4-0 and in control of the AFC East while the Patriots are 2-2 and hanging tough with both of their losses by one score. As we saw with the Dolphins game in Week 3, divisional games can be much tougher than they appear on paper.
I expect the Patriots to come in looking for the upset and give the Bills a run for their money. Focusing on the run game will be a key component for the Patriots as many teams have exploited the run in order to keep pace with the Bills. The Bills defense is still in transition and will heavily rely on the offense to score to stay ahead.
Read below for a full injury analysis of each team heading into Sunday along with projected inactives.
BUFFALO BILLS INJURY REPORT
OUT
LB Dorian Williams (Knee)
Williams was a surprise addition to the injury report ahead of Wednesday’s practice as he was initially dealing with a leg injury. The injury report later came out and clarified that this was a knee injury. Before Sunday, he had been wearing a hinged knee brace on the left knee, but it’s not clear if this is the same or opposite side.
There were two plays below where he could have suffered the injury, which prompted the team to have Shaq Thompson take his place. It initially appeared as though he suffered a left hip/groin issue based on how he fell in the first play and how he turned in the second play.
We will need more information, including bracing, tape, how he moves, and anything that clues us in on what he is dealing with. He has already been ruled out for Sunday, with either Matt Milano or Shaq Thompson getting the start.
CB Dorian Strong (Neck)
Strong was a new addition to the injury report on Thursday with a neck designation and unable to practice after not appearing on the report on Wednesday. This suggests that he suffered the injury in practice on Wednesday or suffered the injury in some other way such as weight training.
He doesn’t have any previous injury history regarding his neck, but he did miss practice back on August 7 for an undisclosed reason. At the time, he did not have anything noteworthy, such as bracing or tape on his body, but he was able to return to play two days later in a preseason game.
Matt Parrino of NYUpstate.com and Syracuse.com noted a possible instance when he could have suffered the injury late in the first quarter below as he makes the tackle out of bounds.
It’s hard to discern what the injury could be from this play alone. It would be even more difficult if there is a previously unknown issue like we saw with Jordan Hancock and his stingers in college.
We may get more information next week but this is something to monitor.
QUESTIONABLE
DT Ed Oliver (Left Ankle)
Oliver was able to return to practice this week after missing the last three games due to a left ankle injury. He confirmed on Wednesday that he did, in fact, not get stepped on by one of his horses.
As for Oliver’s performance on the practice field, he’s moving well, but he favors the left ankle at the end. Nearly every single time, and I see that it looks to be restrictive or even painful to lift the foot up into dorsiflexion or lift the toes upward. I know many people have said that Oliver has a “gait” to him, but this looks to be more pain-related.
Could he play? It looks like it.
However, how will it look midway through the third quarter, and you need a key run stop or blitz, and he can’t push off that left leg as well? If we had more information as to the extent of the injury other than that he was stepped on, this could tell us whether he runs the risk of injuring the structures further or if it’s a pain issue.
I have thought that this may be a high-ankle sprain based on the fact that he was stepped on. He does have tape on the area, as seen below in the more recent picture versus what his right ankle looked like three years ago at about the same time frame from his confirmed right high-ankle sprain. Tape jobs are different, and how he feels is likely different.
With his questionable designation, I would treat his injury like the Taron Johnson injury last year, when he missed four games with his forearm fracture. You have to make players inactive, but you avoid performing roster transactions to the 53-man roster. The Bills value those IR to return designations, and they have used two of them already on Maxwell Hairston and Tylan Grable, whether they return or not. They will likely use one on Gabe Davis when he is ready to go and Tyler Bass as well. That leaves four slots open, and you get two more during the postseason. Things happen, you don’t want to put someone on IR you can’t bring back. If he doesn’t return this week, I’d expect him next week after more practice.
If he does play, I’d expect that he is on a snap count or in during certain packages. Considering TJ Sanders is questionable and more recent, it’ll come down to who is healthier with the other one sitting. Oliver may be forced into action.
LB Matt Milano (Right Pectoral)
After missing the last two games due to a right pectoral injury, Milano was able to return to practice on Wednesday and appeared to move well, showing no hesitation in blocking or performing tackling drills. He was wearing a shoulder harness on his right shoulder to help restrict his shoulder movement, specifically in external rotation and horizontal abduction, which would stress the pectoral muscle. He also lacks flexion and extension, but still can perform all his football movements within the restrictions.
While he would benefit from an additional week off, with the absence of Dorian Williams, Milano may be pressed into service. He could get through this game, as he has returned from this injury before and played exclusively on passing downs when he did this in 2020. The team knows how they want to deploy him and will be cautious given his injury history.
The Bills, unfortunately, don’t have a lot of depth that can step up and be ready from the practice squad, as Keonta Jenkins is nursing a left hamstring injury from Week 3 and the only other call-ups are LB Jimmy Ciarlo or LB Otis Reese IV. Ciarlo could be ready to step in but Reese just got here last week. The team could shuffle things around but things could get messy fast if more injuries occur.
OT Spencer Brown (Left Calf)
Brown looked fantastic all week throughout practice, performing various blocking drills despite being limited all week. This comes after missing the Week 4 matchup against the New Orleans Saints due to the calf injury. If you recall, he injured his calf during the first drive of the game, according to him, during his appearance on One Bills Live. It looked as though he had been kicked in the calf and was labored during the second drive, but did not come out.
Was this an injury he could have played through? Possibly, but the Bills did secure the win without him. I expect he suits up this Sunday.
DT TJ Sanders (Knee)
Sanders popped up on the injury report with a knee designation on Thursday. He was limited, which initially suggests the injury occurred during practice.
However, it was later clarified that he tweaked it during the game on Sunday and something he has been dealing with for a while.
It’s hard to determine if he suits up on Sunday due to the lack of information. Considering Oliver may return, this may allow Sanders to sit.
ACTIVE
TE Jackson Hawes (Ankle)
Hawes made his first appearance on the injury report with an ankle injury that he appeared to suffer during practice this week. Looking at the film didn’t produce anything notable, and it is worth highlighting that he does get both of his ankles taped.
He was able to get a full practice in on Friday and has no designation.
INJURY NOTES
DT Jordan Phillips (Undisclosed)/OT Travis Clayton (Left Wrist)
Phillips was unable to practice all week with an undisclosed issue. As he is on the practice squad, there are no official practice reports during the week.
As for Clayton missing practice, he was spotted with a cast on his left wrist, suggesting a wrist fracture. The team could elect to have him go on injured reserve, but they will likely have him miss a week of practice and then place a club on it so he doesn’t miss any more time.
G Tylan Grable (Concussion), K Tyler Bass (Left Hip/Groin), CB Maxwell Hairston (Right Knee LCL Sprain)
All three players are eligible to return from injured reserve as of this week, but the team has not elected to open their practice windows yet. Looking at Grable, he may still be dealing with concussion symptoms, but he is likely healthy now, and a roster spot needs to open back up. Bass is unknown until he can show he can kick without any residual pain, and other than the generic updates, we don’t have much else to go on.
As for Hairston, he is moving along well, still sporting a brace on his right knee. My initial thought was that they put the brace under his pants, as it generally looked the same. However, upon further inspection, at the end of the video from Matt Bove, you can see the circle cutout, which is different from the hinge brace seen in the Jon Scott video from last week.
Whether the change in the brace was for comfort or function, it still shows that Hairston isn’t quite ready yet to return. He is moving more easily and performing more lateral movements, gaining confidence in pushing off that right leg. He appears to be trusting the leg in general, but once we see him run without the brace, that’s when we will get a better idea of when he will return.
QB Josh Allen (Broken Nose)
What appeared to be obvious was confirmed on Wednesday when Josh Allen went on a show with former quarterback Mark Sanchez and confirmed he broke his nose in Week 3 against the New York Jets. He won’t require surgery but he does have a chip in the bone.
P Mitch Wishnowsky
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS INJURY REPORT
QUESTIONABLE
DT Milton Williams (Ankle)
Williams appeared on the injury report on Wednesday with an ankle as a limited designation. On Thursday, he was downgraded to DNP, further suggesting that he suffered the injury in practice. There aren’t any reports of Williams suffering an injury during practice, and he talked to the media as though he expected to play on Sunday.
Furthermore, Ian Rapoport appeared to shed some light on the injury, implying that this is not a significant injury.
He was able to get a limited practice in on Friday and despite his questionable designation, I expect he suits up.
LB K’Lavon Chaisson (Knee)
Chaisson has been on the injury roster for the last few weeks due to various injuries. He originally was on the injury report for a hamstring strain before Week 3, but picked up a knee injury at some point ahead of Week 4. Both weeks, he did not practice on Wednesday, was limited on Thursday, and did not practice on Friday with a questionable designation.
Based on that practice participation, I don’t expect him to suit up on Sunday.
CB Carlton Davis III (Illness)
Davis was limited Thursday due to illness but returned to full designation on Friday. Even though he is questionable, I expect him to play.
ACTIVE
OL Jared Wilson (Ankle/Knee)
Wilson missed last week’s game against the Carolina Panthers due to ankle and knee injuries, with Ben Brown starting in his place. There isn’t much available as to the exact injuries he is dealing with, but he was able to get a full practice in on Thursday and Friday, signaling that he is ready to return to the lineup.
OT Will Campbell (Shoulder)
Campbell was a new addition to the injury report this week due to a shoulder issue. Like many other Patriots injuries, there wasn’t any in-game reporting that could be found, nor additional details as to the exact specifics. He was able to play in 88 percent of snaps last week, suggesting that this is a manageable issue.
LB Marte Mapu (Neck)
Mapu has been battling a neck injury for the last several weeks, dating back to Week 2. He has not missed any games and has only had a questionable designation going into Week 2. Mapu has been primarily a special teams contributor this season, seeing 61 percent of special teams snaps last week. He does not have a designation and should continue his role.
OL Mike Onwenu (Shoulder)
Onwenu has been on the injury report for the last two weeks as he deals with a shoulder injury. Despite the injury, he was able to play in 100 percent of snaps during the game and practice in full all week with no designation.
S Jaylinn Hawkins (Left Hamstring)
Hawkins left Sunday’s game versus the Carolina Panthers with a hamstring injury with 1:50 left in the second quarter. This was the result of backpedaling and an attempt to transition towards a different direction, and suffered the injury. He was able to finish the series before he was unable to return for the remainder of the game.
Despite the injury, he was able to get limited practices on Thursday and Friday. Considering the recency of the injury and his positional demands, this could be tough to play through.
INJURED RESERVE
LB Jahlani Tavai (Calf)
Tavai opened his practice window on Wednesday following a calf injury originally suffered back in June. He was initially placed on PUP, re-injured his calf, and then placed on injured reserve with designation to return. The Patriots have kept an open spot on their 53-man roster for potentially Tavai, which could see him be active this weekend. Currently, he is questionable heading into the game.
Buffalo Bills Projected Inactives
DT TJ Sanders
OT Chase Lundt
DB Dorian Strong
LB Dorian Williams
DE Landon Jackson
New England Patriots Projected Inactives
QB Tommy DiVito
LB K’Lavon Chaisson
OL Caeden Wallace
DT Eric Gregory
Final Thoughts
While I would love a Bills blowout, I think these teams know each other too well and with a new coach in Mike Vrabel looking to help his team take the next step, I expect a fight. The Bills appear to have the more talented roster on paper, but with the Patriots QB Drake Maye having several offensive options including former Bills WR Stefon Diggs and WR Mack Hollins along TE Hunter Henry and a rushing attack, the Patriots could keep pace.
The Patriots defense could be suspect and if Milton Williams is out, that could open things up to allow the Bills to exploit weaknesses in both the passing and rushing games. The Bills will be looking to go for 30 points for the fifth consecutive week, no small task.
In addition to a good game, I also hope that there are no more injuries coming out of Sunday’s game. The Bills have several decisions to make regarding suspensions and injured reserve decisions and injuries could help make this easier, but that means losing someone who has contributed to this roster, never an ideal situation.
I’m looking to a competitive game and to remain healthy with ideally a Bills win.
Top Photo Credit: Michael Owens/Getty Images
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