The 3-1 Buffalo Bills head down south to face the 3-1 Houston Texans in what could be another playoff preview. This game has significant playoff implications as the winner of this matchup will have the head-to-head tiebreaker which ultimately could mean the difference for home-field advantage come January. Both teams come in with plenty of star players on each side of the ball but due to early-season injuries, may lack some firepower at key positions.
Below are the injury reports for both teams along with detailed analysis, projected inactives, and final thoughts.
Buffalo Bills Injury Report
OUT
DT Ed Oliver (Left Hamstring)
Oliver was a new addition to the injury report with a left hamstring strain suffered in practice on Thursday. He was observed getting his hamstring worked on at the beginning of practice and later returned to practice going through some blocking drills.
It’s not clear how he injured the hamstring, but the hope is that it was more discomfort than outright strain. His injury is not ideal considering Austin Johnson will be out with his oblique injury and they will have to likely have Zion Logue get some snaps and call up Eli Ankou to fill in as well. The team also has Branson Deen as an option but may limit call-ups for later in the season. We should get more information in the coming days after the game which will help clarify the severity of his hamstring strain. Since 2017, Bills players on average miss one game due to a hamstring. If there is any level of notable damage, I would expect that Week 6 against the New York Jets is seriously in doubt given when the injury happened.
DT Austin Johnson (Left Oblique)
Johnson quietly exited the game midway through the second quarter without an injury designation, rolling with three defensive tackles the rest of the way. His final plays were rather normal but a X user pointed out that Johnson appeared to suffer an injury several plays earlier.
As seen above, Johnson was engaged with the offensive lineman and came off grabbing his side. Considering he wasn’t hit, this led to an oblique strain due to the resisted turning of his trunk. He wasn’t able to practice all week and was ruled out. This also explained why they signed Zion Logue knowing that Johnson suffered the injury.
Given we saw Javon Solomon miss two games, we may see a similar timeline for Johnson. However, Solomon had two games in the same week which means Johnson may miss only one game with the timeline stretched out over a full two weeks.
S Taylor Rapp (Concussion)
Rapp looked to be in Stage 2 or 3 of the NFL concussion protocol on Wednesday doing some light aerobic conditioning off to the side. On Thursday, he wasn’t seen outside with the team which may have suggested a reproduction in symptoms leading him to scale back. On Friday, he was officially a DNP despite participating in conditioning again to the side and ruled out.
This is Rapp’s second known concussion and the first one he suffered, he missed three games at the end of 2021. He will need to pass through the concussion protocol to be cleared to play. Given he has an extra day with the Bills playing on Monday Night Football in Week 6, he may return then.
WR Khalil Shakir (Right High-Ankle Sprain)
Shakir is thought to have suffered a high-ankle sprain midway through the first quarter of Sunday’s loss. Despite his ability to get the ankle taped up and finish the game, he was unable to participate in practice all week and was later ruled out.
This unfortunately follows the trend of Bills players missing at least one game due to a high-ankle sprain with the potential to begin ramping back up to play next week.
The training staff were quick to tape up his ankle immediately to prevent swelling from setting in and limiting motion. Playing through the injury also maintained the motion available until he rested after the game. The ankle likely swelled up on the ride home and then limited him to where he couldn’t effectively participate. Even after a few days of treatment, his normal walking may have improved but not with running and cutting.
QUESTIONABLE
LB Terrel Bernard (Left Pectoral)
Bernard inched closer to playing this week following his left pectoral strain in Week 2. He continues to move well in practice increasing his workload every day.
Originally an IR candidate, Bernard has responded well to rehab which indicates that despite this being a strain, this was more in the muscle rather than closer to the tendon. He will still require the use of the shoulder harness during games to limit shoulder motion but the hope is that when he does return, he can do everything and not just be limited to certain passing downs or packages.
There was one clarification as to when Bernard injured his pectoral reading the Niagara Gazette’s Nick Sabato’s article. He indicated that Bernard injured the pectoral while tackling. This prompted me to go back and look at the injury again. The All-22 showed a much better angle of how Bernard injured his pectoral when he tried grabbing with his left arm, straining the muscle. The broadcast view appeared to show him trying to tackle with his right arm only as seen below.
Despite being limited all week, I expect that he will suit up. I will be watching closely to see how Bernard plays come Sunday and how often he is involved.
Update: He is expected to play.
CB Taron Johnson (Right Forearm Fracture)
Johnson returned to practice this week in a red non-contact jersey and a padded brace on his right arm. He confirmed that he did indeed suffer a hairline fracture and that he continues to work back towards playing.
None of the videos from this week including what was observed above indicates that he is quite ready with him limiting the use of the right arm and clenching the fist after several plays. Giving him five weeks off and playing in Week 6 will allow the bone to further heal and ensure that he lessens the chances of it fracturing again. I don’t expect to see Johnson come Sunday.
ACTIVE
QB Josh Allen (Left Hand)
Allen continues to require treatment on his left hand following his Week 1 injury to the area when his right elbow slammed down onto his left hand in the end zone. He has been shown to have bruising around the top of the fourth metacarpal or ring finger, still requiring his ring and middle finger taped together. However, on Friday, he did ditch the tape as a possibility to see how he could grip the football differently.
This hasn’t affected his ability to throw and his ability to run has only improved over the last few games. He will continue to wear the glove with tape until the hand is fully functioning and pain-free.
OT Dion Dawkins (Hamstring)
Dawkins was a surprise addition to the injury report on Wednesday with a hamstring strain suffered sometime during Sunday’s loss.
He managed to play through the entire game, only exiting at the end when a victory was out of reach and starters were pulled. Looking at the video, he was observed intermittently grabbing and motioning at his right hamstring as early as the first quarter. He did enter the medical tent after the first drive per the broadcast which indicated when he suffered the injury.
This is Dawkins first known hamstring injury and considering the team is being cautious, it was smart to hold him out of practice on Wednesday. Fortunately, he was able to return to practice on Thursday and looked pretty solid without any tape or a sleeve on the affected side.
I am a little hesitant about him going out there but if the leg tested out well and sitting him Wednesday was precautionary, then he may get through the game. If he has to leave early, Ryan Van Demark would be the next one to step up.
TE Quintin Morris (Right Shoulder)
Morris continues to require treatment on his right shoulder suffered in the preseason. He requires the use of a shoulder harness suggesting shoulder instability indicating a labrum tear.
QB Mitch Trubisky (Left Knee)
Trubisky continues to require treatment on his left MCL sprain suffered in the preseason in mid-August. He requires the use of a hinged brace but has been able to perform when called upon.
Houston Texans Injury Report
OUT
DE Jerry Hughes (Hip)
Hughes is a new addition to the injury report this week with a hip designation. There isn’t really any additional information other than he was limited on Wednesday, did not practice on Thursday or Friday, ruled out.
This is the first game missed due to injury for Hughes in his entire career.
Update: Hughes has been placed on injured reserve.
RB Joe Mixon (Right High-Ankle Sprain)
Mixon suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter in Week 2 with Chicago Bears LB TJ Edwards applied a now-banned hip-drop tackle to him to take him down to the ground. While the play was not flagged, Mixon could only play several more plays before exiting.
Mixon was ultimately ruled out on both Week 3 and 4. He was able to return to practice on Wednesday before sitting out on Thursday. He is officially out for the third consecutive game leaving the carries to Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale.
DT Derek Barnett (Shoulder)
Not much is available regarding Barnett’s shoulder injury. He played in only 28 percent of defensive snaps last week was unable to practice all week and was ruled out.
QUESTIONABLE
WR Robert Woods (Foot)
Woods didn’t practice on Thursday due to a foot ailment picked up potentially during Wednesday’s practice. This is his first appearance on the injury report this season due to injury and despite getting in a limited practice Friday, he may suit up.
Update: He is expected to play.
OT Tytus Howard (Hamstring)
Howard appeared on the injury report Thursday with a hamstring designation and was limited. This indicates that he suffered the injury in practice. Not being able to practice on Friday indicates he may have to sit this one out.
LB Jake Hansen (Back)
Hansen is a new addition to the injury report this week with a back designation and is exclusively a special teams player. He was able to practice on Wednesday before being downgraded on Thursday and Friday and deemed questionable.
RB Dameon Pierce (Hamstring)
Pierce has been out since suffering a hamstring injury in practice before Week 2. According to the practice reports and tweets, he isn’t much closer to playing this week despite getting limited practice this week and is questionable. I would expect him to sit out.
Update: Pierce is not expected to play.
LB Azeez Al-Shaair (Illness)
Al-Shaair was added to the injury report Saturday and deemed questionable due to an illness.
ACTIVE
WR Tank Dell (Chest/Bruised Ribs)
Dell suffered bruised ribs during the Week 3 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings and missed last week but was able to return to practice limited throughout the week. He was seen wearing a rib cage protector during practice and will likely require an injection to play on Sunday.
OL Juice Scruggs (Hip)
Scruggs is back on the injury report with a hip injury after suffering a groin injury in practice before Week 2, forcing him to miss that game. When he did return, he was able to play in 100 percent of snaps in both Week 3 and 4. He was limited all week until Friday but has no designation.
OT Laremy Tunsil (Ankle)
Tunsil injured his ankle during the second quarter of Sunday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was forced to leave the game to be assessed but later returned in the third quarter. He was able to finish the game and return to practice on Thursday.
S Jimmie Ward (Groin)
Ward has been nursing a groin strain since suffering the injury in Week 3 and missing the following game. He was able to return to practice this week as a limited participant.
He can be seen jogging during practice in the #20 white jersey. Jogging does not indicate much but this is at least progress towards playing. He is at higher risk of reinjuring the area given his positional demands but has no designation.
OT Blake Fisher (Illness)
Fisher missed Thursday’s practice with an illness but returned to practice in full on Friday.
IR/NFI
DT Kurt Hinish (Calf)
Hinish opened his 21-day practice window following his placement on injured reserve following a calf injury in the preseason. If he plays Sunday, the Texans would have to make a corresponding roster move to add him to the active roster.
DE Dylan Horton (Illness)
Horton returned to practice this week for the first time after being placed on the NFI list after being diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkins’s lymphoma back in March. While it is a cool story, I wouldn’t expect him to play quite yet and he would need to be added to the active roster.
Update: He has been activated and will play Sunday.
Buffalo Bills Projected Inactives
S Taylor Rapp
DT Ed Oliver
DT Austin Johnson
WR Khalil Shakir
LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
LB Joe Andreessen
CB Taron Johnson
Call Ups: DT Eli Ankou, WR KJ Hamler
Houston Texans Projected Inactives
RB Joe Mixon
DE Jerry Hughes
RB Dameon Pierce
OT Tytus Howard
LB Jake Hansen
OL Nick Broeker
Call Up: JJ Taylor
Final Thoughts
Injuries really rob each team of key pieces in this game. The winner of the game may be who loses the fewest amount of players due to new injuries. The Bills defense is down quite a few starters but continues to play relatively well except for last week’s performance against Baltimore.
The Texans have injuries on both sides of the ball and will be without at least one and if not two of their top running backs which means this places a lot of stress on the passing game. Add in the injuries on the offensive line and this could allow Buffalo’s defensive line to apply pretty consistent pressure.
This game will come down to who can create the most turnovers and make the fewest mistakes. This sounds cliche but turnovers are momentum changers and if those turnovers can turn into points, then this can knock any team off focus. This game will also be a revenge game as some are referring to WR Stefon Diggs, DE Jerry Hughes, DT Tim Settle, and OL Nick Broeker. This has the potential to be a solid football game with the winner further solidifying their early playoff seeding in the AFC despite it only being Week 5.
I wish both teams the best of health and to avoid injuries come Sunday.
Top Photo Credit: USA Today
