A win is a win. At least that’s what we will tell ourselves as the Buffalo Bills defeated the Cleveland Browns 23-20 to move to 11-4 on the season. In a game that the Bills had multiple chances to pull away, they let the Browns hang around and make it a game down to the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
Fortunately, the Bills stepped up, especially the defense and closed out another win. Unfortunately, they got beat up in the process with several notable injuries that will have some impact heading into the final games of the season.
Read below for the full injury analysis coming out of Sunday’s win.
In Game Injuries
Make sure to check back for the latest injury updates and All 22 review after Monday’s press conference.
LB Shaq Thompson (Neck)
Thompson was the first injury of the day when he had a helmet-to-helmet hit with TE Harold Fannin with 6:26 left in the first quarter.
He came off grabbing his hand before going to the medical tent before he was deemed questionable to return with a neck injury.
He was seen on the sidelines working out his neck and testing his range of motion before he got his helmet to prepare to go back in. Despite being ready, I don’t believe he ever went back in unless it was on special teams.
Looking at how he hit, this may be a generalized neck sprain where there was some compression when he hit or hyperextension of the neck briefly which could have caused a stinger. This could explain why he was holding his hand but had the likely painful range of motion. Despite Terrel Bernard not playing well, the smart choice was to limit Thompson’s snaps to keep him healthy for the playoffs.
QB Josh Allen (Right Foot)
The most significant injury of the day came when Allen was scrambling trying to avoid a sack by Myles Garrett and then narrowly avoided a safety. While diving, Allen bent his right foot as he fell over forward.
He came up flexing his right ankle before limping off the field to the sidelines for the athletic trainers to assess him. He was seen walking into the locker room without his shoe on and limping heavily after in the tunnel.
Fortunately, he was able to jog back out on the sidelines and start the second half with an update that he underwent x-rays. He likely got taped up and possibly an injection to get through the remainder of the game.
Despite the x-rays being negative, Allen did not have a good second half of football. In the first half he went 6/7 for 86 yards and 4 rushes for 17 yards. In the second half, he was 5/12 for 44 yards and 3 rushes for 0 yards. His pocket mobility suffered with shorter steps during drop backs, difficulty planting on his right leg which affected his accuracy.
Allen downplayed the injury following the game but it objectively impacted his ability to play.
Based on how he went down, it looks as though he suffered a midfoot sprain. The picture below shows how the mechanism of injury could occur with a Lisfranc sprain but this does not imply that this is the injury. This is one of the few pictures that show the mechanism but working with the knowledge that Allen did not dislocate. If he had, he would not have been able to return to the game.
This injury reminds me of his left foot injury in 2021 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had a similar mechanism of injury and gutted out the remainder of the game. Despite the injury, he still played well down the stretch indicating that he will play through any injury that he can. His stats were largely unaffected but he spent the next two weeks on the injury report.
I do expect this foot injury to linger and for him to be limited on the injury report this week. Despite the injury, I don’t expect Allen to miss any games or time unless he is Highlander and is decapitated.
DT Daquan Jones (Lower Body)
Jones was spotted in the injury tent late in the third quarter for an undisclosed issue. He was seen jogging on the sidelines before he returned to play.
Below is the last defensive snap he had before he went into the tent. He did stay on for the field goal unit but he didn’t do much on that play.
We will need more info if there is anything to this issue.
S Jordan Poyer (Left Hamstring)
Poyer limped off the field after a sack of Shedeur Sanders with 2:37 left in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t initially known how he injured his leg as it looks like he had another player fall on him.
However, at the end of Sean McDermott’s press conference at 25:37, he was caught on a hot mic telling someone that Poyer suffered a hamstring and that he wouldn’t have been able to return if he was needed. Looking back at the video, his left leg does pull up before he tries to finish the play.
He was able to walk off the field alright in post game video but we will see how he is feeling after Monday’s press conference.
OT Spencer Brown (Right Wrist/Hand)
Brown appeared to injure his right wrist/hand on the QB sneak that essentially ended the game in the fourth quarter. It’s nearly impossible to see how Brown would have injured his wrist/hand but he is seen holding it coming off for the final kneel downs.
This may be a more hurt than injured situation but we will get more information this week.
DE Javon Solomon (Right Hand/Elbow)
Solomon was observed walking out out of the x-ray room flexing his right hand/elbow depending on who observed him.
Looking at All-22 when it is available may show when Solomon injured that area and whether there are any concerns.
Other Observations
OT Dion Dawkins (Illness)
Dawkins missed Wednesday and Thursday’s practice with an illness before returning to full practice on Friday. Following the game, he revealed that he lost 14 pounds due to not eating but noted that he would not miss the game.
Final Thoughts
This was a much closer game than anyone liked unless you’re a Browns fan. There were several notable injuries that could affect availability for the last two games and potentially playoffs. Wins don’t have to be pretty or dominating, but you always hope the team finds a way to get it done and these Bills, as flawed as they are, find ways to get the win nearly every week.
The Bills will be taking on the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17 as they begin their last homestand before the playoffs. Make sure to check back for the latest injury news each and every day.
Top Photo Credit: David Richard/AP
Discover more from Banged Up Bills
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
