The Buffalo Bills bye week is here in Week 7 and that means a chance for the team to rest and rehab from their respective injuries. Some injuries require a week off while others require months. Plenty of Bills players have been placed on injured reserve this season for various reasons for varying lengths of time.
Some injuries are known with a clear path to return while others are more vague leading to speculation on when the player may return. Many of these players are difference makers or have the potential to be effective depth for the second half of the season.
To read more on the current Bills injuries following the Week 6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, click here.
Below are all the current Bills players on injured reserve along with injury details along with an anticipated timeline to return.
Note: The Bills have eight injured reserve slots that can be designated for return with an additional two in the postseason. The Bills have so far designated Maxwell Hairston and Tylan Grable for return at the time of roster cut downs. They have unlimited slots to place players on IR, but now have six remaining designated to return slots.
Once the practice window opens, that player has 21 days to practice with the team and then must either be activated to the roster or return to injured reserve, ending his season.
Injured Reserve- Eligible to Return
CB Maxwell Hairston (Right Knee LCL Sprain)
Timeline to Return: Week 10, eligible since Week 5
Hairston continues to ramp up as he inches closer to return to the field following his LCL sprain during training camp on July 29. Original reports had Hairston returning as quickly as three weeks but it is now the Week 7 bye with Hairston on injured reserve and still not playing yet.
With the benefit of hindsight and a timeline over the last three months, we have a better idea of what the injury may have been.
To read more about the initial reporting and LCL sprain, click below.
As reported in the literature and my original article when the injury happened, an isolated LCL sprain is pretty rare. It’s often seen in conjunction with posterolateral corner injuries or multiligament injuries such as ACL and PCL. My original thought was that his cleat somehow got caught in the ground and he hyperextended the knee. Another mechanism of injury for an LCL is a flexed knee with significant external rotation of the tibia which is where the lower leg turns out and the knee buckles inward. This could have happened during the drill below which would make more sense.
The literature for isolated LCL sprains for Grade 1-2 indicated he would miss two to five weeks which meant that he could have returned ahead of training camp cut downs. This didn’t happen which suggests there was more damage than reported. It’s entirely possible he suffered a lateral meniscus tear, PCL sprain, a fibular head avulsion fracture also known as an arcuate sign, popliteus muscle injury, or bone bruise.
All of these injuries could be managed conservatively which means no surgical interventions. We haven’t heard any reports that underwent any surgery. Other injuries such as a biceps femoris tear which is part of the hamstring complex has shown to require surgery in most cases and have a quicker return to play timeline than those managed conservatively.
Furthermore, research suggests that a Grade 1 PLC injury can be managed conservatively and has an eight week return to sports timeline. This would fit the timeline we’ve seen for when he has returned to more football specific activities ahead of Week 4.
Normally the knee is locked out in extension for four weeks but we saw him on an exercise bike with a brace and drills on at three weeks.
Looking back with the benefit of hindsight, the Bills had the idea to give him another month to get ready and then have him be ready to open his practice window in Week 5.
When we saw Hairston return to the field ahead of Week 4, head coach Sean McDermott looked to really temper expectations due to all the time Hairston had missed. With the benefit of hindsight, the wording also suggests a setback or a slower rehab timeline than expected, especially the “we’ll see” part in the second tweet.
Keep in mind this is with the benefit of hindsight and seeing how events have played out. Rehab timelines aren’t always linear and can have complications, even at the highest levels of sports. We certainly saw a shift in the messaging and tone of how Hairston was progressing from late August to late September/early October.
More recently, McDermott was more optimistic as to when Hairston’s practice window could potentially open after the bye.
His movements on the field have confirmed this as well.
All of this takes us to an updated potential return for Hairston as seen below in the audio clip and timeline written out by Cover 1’s Greg Tompsett.
Looking back at everything, it’s entirely possible that Hairston had more damage than initially thought, the team was initially more optimistic about his return, and either a setback or slower rehab led to the change in tone and timeline.
I also expect the Bills to maximize his 21-day practice window before they get back onto the field. As he was designated to return at roster cut downs, the Bills have already used a spot on him regardless whether he returns or not. Hopefully he returns in Week 10 and that they open his practice window after the bye.
This was really interesting to look back and see the shifts in messaging regarding his progression along with the information that we now know. Hopefully he comes back after the bye and begins to ramp up towards making his debut.
OT Tylan Grable (Concussion)
Timeline to return: When a roster spot opens, has been eligible since Week 5
Grable suffered a concussion on August 6 after leaving training camp practice early. He was placed in the concussion protocol and began to work his way back getting as far as wearing a red non-contact jersey on August 19.
However, he likely began having symptoms as he increased his workload. This was his first documented concussion from what I could find in his collegiate history. His concussion was lingering enough that he wasn’t cleared after three weeks that he was placed on injured reserve. I believe he needed extra time to fully recover but having the ability to place him on injured reserve also allowed the team to keep others on the roster and keep Grable available when he is eligible to be activated.
It is hypothetically possible that he is still not cleared from his concussion, but I would expect that he is now. Assuming he is cleared, as soon as there is an offensive lineman injury or someone is performing below expectations, that’s when I expect Grable to be activated.
CB Dorian Strong (Neck)
Timeline to Return: Eligible Week 10
Strong was placed on injured reserve following the win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 4. He began to practice this week before being downgraded to DNP Thursday and Friday.
Here are several plays that could have caused a neck injury though it’s not clear what the exact injury is.
He did go for a second opinion for his neck injury but it doesn’t appear that he’s required surgery from any pictures/video we’ve seen. Once we get more information, we will have a better idea of what a true timeline could be to return.
DT TJ Sanders (Knee)
Timeline to return: Eligible Week 11
Sanders was placed on injured reserve ahead of Week 6 due to a knee injury that he aggravated against the New Orleans Saints in Week 4. The team had stated that he was dealing with this injury for some time though it isn’t clear when the original injury was.
He had required attention from athletic training staff back on July 28 but returned to practice and did not have any braces or sleeves on a particular leg. He did appear to suffer a right leg injury during the Saints game as seen below, but there hasn’t been any updates as to the confirmed side or procedure he underwent.
My assumption is that he underwent some type of cartilage clean out, meniscus trim, or even bursa sac removal if the knee was persistently swelling, but additional details along with the hindsight of his time missed will shed light onto the specific procedure.
He is eligible to return Week 11 though it is unclear when he will actually return to play.
P Cameron Johnston (Foot/Ankle)
Timeline to return: Eligible Week 10
Johnston suffered a left foot/ankle injury against the New Orleans Saints in Week 4 when he was hit low when the Saints defensive line barreled through the line.
He initially had a left knee injury and was able to finish the game with a brace on his knee to hold for a field goal, but he was later placed on injured reserve with a foot/ankle injury. From the looks of it, this was a left foot/ankle due to all the contact to the leg on the tackle.
There hasn’t been any additional information as to the extent of his injury, but he has been rehabbing all along as evident by his IG story on 10/18.
I’m not certain that Johnston comes back unless Mitch Wishnowsky gets hurt or becomes ineffective. It’s a wait and see approach for Johnston who has now spent time on injured reserve the last two seasons after tearing his right ACL last year in Week 1 with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
S Damar Hamlin (Pectoral)
Timeline to return: Eligible Week 11
Hamlin suffered a pectoral injury during the Wednesday practice on October 9. It’s not clear the extent of the injury but the team appears less optimistic about Hamlin’s return to play this season compared to TJ Sanders.
It hasn’t been reported which side Hamlin injured or whether he has undergone surgery. He is eligible to return as soon as Week 11 but whether he does depends on the severity of the injury. He did deal with a right shoulder injury during the preseason that forced him to wear a shoulder brace, but it’s not clear whether his most recent injury was related to this.
K Tyler Bass (Left Hip/Groin)
Timeline to return: TBD, has been eligible since Week 5
Bass continues to have no timeline to return as he is still working back from pelvic soreness dating back to the beginning of training camp. He missed nearly the entire training camp as he worked through his issue with no real updates. He was able to play in the final preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but appeared to aggravate the issue at some point prior to the beginning of the season as he was limited in the Wednesday practice prior Week 1 before being downgraded to DNP Thursday and Friday and placed on injured reserve.
The team knew something wasn’t right when they brought in kickers the prior week but ultimately signed K Matt Prater the following week.
Since this has been going on, I have thought that he has been dealing with osteitis pubis. This is what I have said previously about osteitis pubis.
“This is a condition where there is inflammation between your left and right pubic bones, which is known as the pubic symphysis, from overuse, causing microtrauma.
This is common in individuals using their hips, pelvis, and groin, which would be exactly what Bass has been doing. This is seen often in pregnancy but also in soccer, hockey, basketball, etc. Given his positional demands, kicking is a high stressor to this area. If this is what Bass is dealing with, he would be experiencing groin or lower abdominal pain or aching throb, pain in the inner thigh, tightness within the pelvis, swelling, or genital pain.”
However, his injury issues have continued to linger and have no end in sight. Having the benefit of hindsight, I don’t see any more clarity than what I originally thought with osteitis pubis. We may get further clarification once he is able to return to practice but we have no idea when that will be this season.
Practice Squad Injured Reserve
WR Gabe Davis (Left Meniscus/PCL Repair)
Timeline to Return: Eligible since Week 5
Davis signed to the practice squad shortly after roster cut downs occurred on September 2. Immediately after signing, he was placed on practice squad injured reserve which is a rarely used transaction. He has continued to rehab back from his left medial meniscus tear and fully torn PCL. His PCL was already partially torn from Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season when the Bills clinched the AFC East division over the Miami Dolphins.
Davis should have been ready to play considering his knee injury last year was in Week 11 but he developed a blood clot during his rehab process, slowing down his progress.
As of publication, he has had an additional six weeks to rehab which means that he may be close to being opening his practice window and activated to the practice squad. Once he is activated, he uses one of the injured reserve return slots even though he is on the practice squad. Considering the injury to Joshua Palmer in Week 6, he may see game action sooner than later. I could see his practice window open after the bye.
To read more about Davis’s injury, click below.
Injured Reserve- Season
DT DeWayne Carter (Left Achilles Rupture)
Timeline to Return: Spring 2026
Carter tore his left Achilles during the first practice of the 2025 regular season on August 27, a day after roster cut downs. This was an unfortunate injury for a developing player on the defensive line expected to make a jump in year two. He is technically eligible to return for the season after his placement on injured reserve came after roster cut downs, but it is not expected that a player at his position would return this season.
He continues to rehab with the team and should be on track to be ready for OTA’s following the 2026 NFL draft. To read more on his career outlook and additional details, read below.
CB Wande Owens (Undisclosed)
Timeline to Return: 2026
Owens was quietly placed on injured reserve on injured reserve prior to the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had left practice with a trainer on August 21 and did not return.
This may be more of a stash for him to stay with the team and develop. He is ineligible to return this season as his placement was done prior to roster cut downs. Looking at his social media, he didn’t appear to require surgery as he does not have any visible braces or slings present. However, these images are a month past roster cut down day which means he could have had something done that no longer required extra support or protection.
We may eventually get additional information as to the exact injury he is dealing with if Owens speaks publicly.
Final Thoughts
There are still many things we don’t know regarding all of these injuries but we may get more information and updates in the coming days and weeks.
Hopefully this reflection and consolidation of updates allow us to have a better idea of what is going on. With so much information flying around during the season and focusing on the latest information, looking back allows a more complete picture to form and better understand everything.
Many of these players can positively contribute and help with a second half push to the playoffs for hopefully a deep run. Add in Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi returning from suspension, these are the reinforcements the Bills may need rather than a trade. Coming off two losses in a row going into the bye doesn’t help morale, but the Bills have lost two in a row every season going back several years and still rebounded for postseason success. I expect the same this season.
I hope that each player continues to rehab and come back on their own timelines to contribute to the Buffalo Bills success in 2025.
Top Photo Credit: Adrian Kraus/AP
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