Week 4 is here and it’s Patriots week! These used to be such rough weeks during The Drought when Tom Brady would dominate the Bills year in and year out with the Bills occasionally stealing a win here and there. Even after Tom Brady left followed by Bill Belichick, things improved for the Bills with some memorable wins towards the end of Belichick’s time, but the Patriots roared back last year with the benefit of a fourth-place schedule and took down the Bills to win the AFC East on their way to another Super Bowl appearance.
Despite entering the game 3-0 and the Patriots at 1-2, this game means a lot for both franchises. If the Bills win, they move to 4-0 and have a three-game lead over the Patriots at the quarter mark of the season. If the Patriots win, they stabilize at 2-2 and keep close in what is expected to be another tight divisional race.
Both teams come in with a variety of injuries, though the Patriots have sent quite a few guys to injured reserve with varying levels of severity. Injuries happen in football; that’s a given, and every team needs to adjust to get the best players out there. But at some point, it goes from having the best players out there to just having a warm body out there.
Read below for the full injury analysis for each team heading into Week 4 along with projected inactives.
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BUFFALO BILLS INJURY REPORT
DOUBTFUL
DT TJ Sanders (Illness/Appendix)
Sanders returned to practice this week as he worked his way back from an emergency appendectomy last Tuesday. He missed Week 3 as expected coming off a recent surgery, but he appears to be on the mend as he returned to practice on Thursday. He looked pretty good moving around just nine days removed from surgery but still likely isn’t feeling 100 percent.
Sanders spoke to Spectrum News Andy Young about his appendectomy, which appeared to begin the week prior when he missed practice due to an illness. He stated that he continued to rehab his knee over the weekend before it began bothering him again, and scans showed that he had to undergo emergency surgery to remove it.
Most of the players that I found last week missed between 1-2 games following this procedure, which means Sanders could miss again as he ramps back up. He may also be a numbers casualty as the team has played the first three games without him and has done well. He is officially doubtful and the Bills have not had a player that has been doubtful play since I believe 2015. Additionally, less than two percent play league wide last I checked which means I don’t see how Sanders play unless there is another pregame injury.
QUESTIONABLE
CB Christian Benford (Right Toe)
Benford couldn’t practice all week after leaving Sunday’s game with a right toe injury. Most of the time, I see toe injuries as turf toe, but I don’t see a clear mechanism for the injury. League-wide, most cornerbacks and defensive backs miss just over 1 game according to the Banged Up Bills injury database.
He also did miss a game late last year due to a left toe injury he suffered in practice, but he wasn’t on the injury report for long after that. We need more information for it to be a turf toe or a clear mechanism, but this is exactly why Brandon Beane drafted Davison Igbinosun and placed a premium on cornerback depth.
Considering he didn’t practice all week, there hasn’t been a player that hasn’t practiced during that week that didn’t play that dates back to 2016. Expect Benford to miss.
RB Ray Davis (Hamstring)
Davis popped up on the injury report with a hamstring injury on Thursday and was a full participant before being downgraded to limited Friday. While looking through the Banged Up Bills injury database, trying to find comparable instances didn’t turn up reliable data.
Looking at the raw data showed that there has only been one instance of a player who did not have a designation the first day, a full designation, the second day, and then limited the third day. This was TE Logan Thomas in Week 15 of the 2018 season. He had the same presentation and even same injury. He was questionable before he was downgraded to out.
I don’t see how Davis plays this week since he needs to be able to take carries at running back if needed and he needs to have explosion in the return game. This could be a minor injury, but I also found that practice injuries play at roughly 50/50. I’d flip the coin to show him being inactive this week though.
ACTIVE
LB Joe Andreessen (Right Knee)
Andreessen is once again on the injury report for what looks to be a right knee injury, as he is wearing a full sleeve on the right side. This is the same side that lingered throughout training camp and originally was from when he suffered a right quad strain back in mid-May.
He wasn’t able to practice Wednesday before he returned as a limited participant Thursday. Looking back at this timeline, it wouldn’t shock me to hear that he had patellar or quadriceps tendinitis or tendonosis. This is an issue where there is irritation from microscopic tears that have scarred down and healed at the tendon attachment from the muscle to the bone. This would lead to ineffective pulling at the attachment point and cause pain and swelling with overuse. It’s possible that he injured the muscle, it got mostly better, and then the activity ramp up led to the overuse.
This is something that he can continue to play through and manage, but this could explain the lengthy timeline and limited practices.
S Damar Hamlin (Ribs)
Hamlin was limited all week wearing a red non-contact jersey as he dealt with a rib injury, though it’s not clear when he suffered the injury, as he finished the game. Considering he was able to practice all week, it’s possible that these are more bruised ribs, with a possibility that there is a fracture that can get an injection before the game to numb the area. If this was a cartilage injury, I’d expect him to miss more time.
It’s worth highlighting that Hamlin missed three games in 2024 with a rib designation, though this doesn’t appear to be related without more information. Fortunately, he doesn’t have a designation and is good to go.
WR DJ Moore (Left Shoulder)
Moore continues to be a limited participant as he rehabs from his left AC joint sprain suffered against the Detroit Lions in Week 2. He was able to suit up last week and was largely effective, but did not have a huge stat line like everyone wants. He will continue to wear a red non-contact jersey throughout the next several weeks to allow the shoulder to heal without taking hits as well. He could make this injury worse if he takes another hard shot to the shoulder or causes additional damage.
Many players do play through this and manage the injury, so while it’s possible, it’s not as common for this injury to slowly deteriorate. It’s hard to say when he falls off the injury report, but after the bye is a good bet.
WR Keon Coleman (Right Ankle)
Coleman missed practice again on Wednesday as he continues to work through his right ankle injury sustained in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions. He was questionable heading into the game last week, and I didn’t think he’d play based on the practice participation along with the prior foot/toe injuries from the preseason. He may have sustained a low ankle sprain in Week 2, but I believe there is something more going on that we simply aren’t seeing. There are too many possibilities to list but we may get more clues as the season progresses to identify the specific injury.
LB Terrel Bernard (Knee)
Bernard continues to work through a knee issue that has placed him on the injury report but has not limited him throughout the week. He needs veteran rest days, which is the first time in his career that he has required this designation during the week. We’ll see if this lingers but something to watch but he did require a vet rest again this week.
LB Bradley Chubb (Left Thumb)
Chubb continues to work through what looks like some type of thumb fracture or sprain based on the tape job he has on his left hand every week. He’s still played incredibly effectively and hasn’t been limited, so this is something the team continues to manage.
G Ar’Maj Reed-Adams (Right Elbow)
Reed-Adams is still battling through a right elbow injury based on the bracing that he is wearing during practice. The bracing tells us the side but doesn’t tell us if this was a UCL sprain, hyperextension, or triceps issue they’re calling an elbow.
It’s possible that he injured the elbow last week in practice, and he only missed last week due to a numbers game since he was a healthy scratch the prior two weeks.
DL Deone Walker (Left Quad)
Walker briefly left Sunday’s game due to an undisclosed injury and was seen testing it out on the sidelines before returning to play. On Wednesday, we learned that this was a quad issue. He was limited on Wednesday before getting full practices in on Thursday and Friday, suggesting that this was more of a contusion rather than a strain which shouldn’t linger
LB Dorian Williams (Hip)
Williams was a full participant throughout the week as he dealt with a hip designation. He did leave Sunday’s game for a concussion check but came back immediately.
NEW ENGLAND INJURY REPORT
OUT
DT Christian Barmore (Left Shoulder)
Barmore left Sunday’s game with 8:06 left in the fourth quarter with what looked to be a left shoulder injury at the goal line. There wasn’t anything notable, but he was rolling his shoulder out. However, on the prior play with 9:40 left, this was a potential play where he injured himself. This came on a routine block but his arm got extended outwards before he ran inside towards the play. After the play, he appeared to be rolling out the shoulder before the camera cut away. He played in one additional play before exiting for the day.
Unfortunately for the Patriots, he was unable to practice all week and was ruled out on Friday.
CB Christian Gonzalez (Right Shoulder)
Gonzalez was a concerning addition to the injury report this week with what looks to be a right shoulder injury that he picked up during Sunday’s game. Banged Up Bills friend Dr. David Chao found this play during Sunday’s game where Gonzalez wrapped up the Jaguars offensive player before he tackled him and landed on his right shoulder.
He never came out of the game or went into the medical tent per reports, but looking at the video, he appeared to suffer an AC joint sprain. He has had previous trauma to the area when he tore the labrum in his right shoulder in 2023 when he dislocated it trying to tackle Tony Pollard.
Hopefully this isn’t another labrum tear, but if this is an AC joint sprain, this becomes very difficult for Gonzalez to block, tackle, and hit without causing further pain. DB’s with a shoulder designation miss, league-wide, an average of 1.08 games, according to the Banged Up Bills injury database.
Unfortunately, the statistics bore out that Gonzalez would miss this week as he was ruled out on Friday.
QUESTIONABLE
FB Reggie Gilliam (Knee)
Gilliam, the former Bills FB, has been battling a knee injury that dates back to the summer, according to Andrew Callahan of The Boston Herald. This is a newer injury, as Gilliam has not dealt with a knee injury since 2020 with the Bills. He was limited on Wednesday before being downgraded to DNP on Thursday but bounced back to limited on Friday.
According to Gilliam’s practice participation this week, he has a 66.7 percent chance to play on Sunday. Considering this is a known injury and he has played through much worse when he was with the Bills, I expect that he suits up Sunday.
CB Channing Canada (Hamstring)
Canada popped up on the injury report on Thursday with a hamstring designation and was limited, which means that this injury likely occurred in practice. He was limited both days, and according to the Banged Up Bills injury database, he has a 77.4 percent chance to play Sunday. However, considering his positional demands and the late week injury, it’s not looking great despite his practice participation.
LB Christian Elliss (Chest)
Elliss was a new addition to the injury report this week with a chest designation. This could be a variety of injuries, including a rib or pectoral injury that they classify as a chest. He was a limited participant during the week and has a 77.4 percent chance to play this week according to the Banged Up Bills injury database. Linebacker’s with a chest injury miss on average 1.88 games, which is concerning, but the fact that he was able to practice all week is still promising.
OT Morgan Moses (Foot)
Moses has been battling a foot injury that dates back to Week 2, according to the injury report. He was on the report last week ahead of Week 3 with limited designations the entire week but appeared to aggravate the injury at some point, playing in just 68.3% of snaps. He was unable to practice on Wednesday and Thursday before getting a limited practice in on Friday. According to the Banged Up Bills injury database, Moses has a 41.7 percent chance to play Sunday. Should he play? Probably not, but considering he is a veteran, he may be still be the better option than OT Caleb Lomu.
LB Dre’Mont Jones (Shoulder)
He came into Week 2 with a foot injury and was questionable but played before picking up a shoulder injury that game and missed the following week. He was able to get limited practice in this week, and like everyone else who was limited this week, he has a 77.4 percent chance to play this week. Considering he missed last week, I’d expect that he plays this week.
TE Eli Raridon (Thigh)
Raridon missed the Week 3 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars after suffering a thigh injury in Week 2. This was potentially a thigh contusion that swelled up and limited his ability to run. The injury was potentially the result of a deep pass down the left side with 1:51 left in the first quarter of Week 2. The play was rather unremarkable, but this was significant enough that he was unable to return.
He was able to practice in a limited capacity all week and was designated as questionable. While he has a 77.4 percent chance to play this week, tight ends who suffer thigh injuries miss on average 1.08 games according to the Banged Up Bills injury database. Considering he missed last week, my bet is that he suits up this week.
DB Craig Woodson (Shoulder)
Woodson returned to practice this week after missing most of last week as he battled a shoulder injury. He was a limited participant last Friday but did not play after being ruled questionable.
He was able to practice every day this week, and despite being questionable with a 77.4 percent chance to play, I expect him to suit up.
ACTIVE
QB Drake Maye (Right Shoulder)
Maye showed up on the injury report with a right shoulder injury after there have been questions about his accuracy since last year’s playoffs. The team continued to deny that there is a shoulder issue until they put him on the injury report this week. He was a full participant all week, and Maye has come out and stated that the shoulder has not affected his throwing ability or decision-making.
Later, OC Josh McDaniels stated that the injury came out of the Jaguars game, which explains why he was on the report this week. Looking at the specifics of the injury and knowing something may have been lingering prior, I wonder if there isn’t some type of impingement or rotator cuff pathology that is causing him some discomfort but something he can play through.
We saw this several years ago with Josh Allen, where he dealt with some rotator cuff issues that affected his throwing mechanics, and while he still played well, his accuracy did suffer during the second half of the season as he played through the injury. I would expect that the Patriots were aware of any issues that they needed to rehab in the offseason, but sometimes the rehab goes well, and there are still issues. We will see if Maye begins to struggle as he takes hits or fatigue sets in.
NFI
DB Brendan Schooler (Back)
Schooler continues to ramp up his practice participation as he works to return from the NFI list due to a back injury. It’s not clear if this was surgery, but it’s important to distinguish that this injury happened away from football due to the NFI designation. He was able to begin practicing last week due to rule changes with NFI and PUP, but is not eligible yet to play, as he has to miss 4 games before returning.
Buffalo Bills Projected Inactives
G Ar’maj Reed-Adams
S Jalon Kilgore
CB Christian Benford
DT TJ Sanders
OT Jude Bowry
WR Skyler Bell
RB Ray Davis
Call Up: CB Anthony Kendall, CB Te’Cory Couch
New England Patriots Projected Inactives
DT Christian Barmore
CB Christian Gonzalez
G Matt Pryor
QB Berhen Morton
LB Christian Elliss
CB Channing Canada
TE Tanner Arkin
Call ups: LB KJ Britt, CB Kindle Vildor
Final Thoughts
The Bills need to take advantage of the Patriots’ depth issues. They are down to their third-string right guard after Mike Onwenu broke his ankle in Week 2; replacement Greg Van Roten suffered a thigh injury in Week 3 that sent him to IR, and they are now down to Walter Rouse. The right tackle, Morgan Moses, is working through a foot injury, and his replacement won’t be as effective, which brings opportunity to overload the right side of the line.
Add in the injuries to Christian Barmore and Christian Gonzalez, who, even if they play, won’t be fully healthy and could have early exits. This is still a dangerous team that knows how to win and understands what a win does this early on in the season. If the Bills come out like they did last week against the Chargers, it will be an ugly game. They are the far healthier team and have the better quarterback under center, along with a strong defensive front led by Greg Rousseau, Deone Walker, Ed Oliver, and Bradley Chubb.
Despite it only being Week 4, this game will shape the division and playoff seeding months from now. It’s big for either team, which means it should be a competitive game with the victor taking fewer injuries and making fewer mistakes.
Top Photo Credit: Mark Konezny
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