THE BILLS ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS! No this is not a typo, they finally ended The Drought; it is over, dead, gone, finished! This is a wonderful feeling that I’m trying to describe in the written word and it just isn’t quite coming to fruition at this moment. I suppose that my thoughts on The Drought finally ending could be summed up in another article for another time. As for today and every previous article, today’s post will identify injuries sustained in Sunday’s game and impact that they have on Sunday’s playoff game in Jacksonville.
It has been heavily documented and discussed RB LeSean McCoy’s ankle injury sustained in the 3rd quarter of Sunday’s game. It has since been revealed that McCoy sprained his ankle and there may be a possibility that he can play next Sunday. Looking at video, a lateral ankle sprain is pretty consistent with reports. It is difficult to see due to video angles, but as McCoy steps with his right ankle, he is being tackled to the turf. While tackled, his toes are planted in the ground, he is tackled with his body going left. This puts extra torque through the ankle joint, the ankle snapped up off of the turf as a result and he suffers a sprained ankle.
I had some initial thoughts that he fell directly onto the toe/midfoot leading to a sprain of the big toe or turf toe or a Lisfranc sprain of the midfoot. Thankfully, the lateral ankle took the brunt of the injury. This is beneficial because if McCoy is unable to push off his toe or midfoot during running, he would be even more ineffective. McCoy will be limited in lateral movements but with the proper rehab he can play in some fashion Sunday. This rehab includes range of motion stretching, pain/swelling management, light strengthening, and bracing to the area to limit further damage. Based on video, the ankle was injured, but the injury to the ankle appears to be less severe than what it could have been. As I am not the evaluating therapist, I am unable to determine severity so mechanism of injury, video, and knowledge of the area will have to do.
I believe McCoy will play in his biggest game in a Buffalo Bills uniform. I do not anticipate that he will miss the game, but may require a decreased work load to decrease injury and ensure effectiveness during each run. It does help that the field conditions will be ideal for footing and assist in reduction for re-aggravation of his injury. If McCoy is limited, both FB Patrick DiMarco and FB Mike Tolbert are available along with RB Marcus Murphy are able carry the workload. The Bills also recently signed RB Aaron Green to the practice squad to be called up in the event that McCoy does not play.
OT Jordan Mills injured his ankle late in the 2nd quarter during a block where he was forced to backpedal while blocking Cameron Wake. On video replay, he has to take several hard steps backwards and steps awkwardly on his left ankle. There did not appear to be any rolling of the foot inward which rules out a lateral ankle sprain but his foot was planted and his knee buckled in which could result in a inversion sprain or midfoot sprain due to the sudden jarring motion during the forced planting. Mills was unable to return but may also be limited for Sunday’s game. If Mills is unable to go, OT Seantrel Henderson will get the start.
As for other injuries, there does not appear to be any other injuries that should impact the roster ahead of Sunday’s game. I expect to see McCoy and Mills on the injury report along with WR Kelvin Benjamin (knee), TE Charles Clay (knee), DT Kyle Williams (groin), WR Deonte Thompson (shoulder/back). All should play without question but no one is close to 100% at this point in the season. With how this season has progressed and the injuries sustained, it will take some serious injuries to keep any of the players out from attempting to play. I do not anticipate any surprises on the injury report tomorrow, but anything can happen.
Look for articles regarding changes in the injury report later this week, my thoughts on ending The Drought, and anything else that I believe is warranted to write about. For the latest updates and game time updates, follow me on Twitter @kyletrimble88. As always, thank you for reading, the Bills have finally made the playoffs, and GO BILLS!!
