The Buffalo Bills went to the other side of Lake Erie and took care of business defeating the Cleveland Browns 31 to 7. This moves the Bills to 2-0 in the preseason and has helped or in some cases hurt the chances for players fighting for a roster spot.
They managed to come out of both the joint practice and game with very few injuries which is always beneficial as the team inches closer to the regular season. Below are all the injuries and updates coming out of Saturday’s win.
In-Game Injuries
OL Jude Bowry (Undisclosed)
Bowry left Saturday’s game after the third offensive series of the day early in the second quarter. He did enter the medical tent and then sat on the bench after a rough performance giving up several sacks.
Looking at the film, there wasn’t anything notable on the broadcast that indicated an injury. It’s entirely possible that this occurred off screen and that the All-22 footage will show what happened. Once that film or game photos are available, then there may be more information.
Other Observations
WR Khalil Shakir (Right Leg)
Shakir has missed practice all week after dealing with an initially undisclosed injury after sitting out practice on August 18. On August 20, it was confirmed this was an injury and on Saturday, he was seen with a sleeve on his right leg. There are a variety of injuries that this could be including a hamstring, quadriceps, knee, or even calf.
This is the same side that his ankle surgery occurred on during the offseason but it’s not clear if this contributed to this latest injury. In fact, Shakir does not have an extensive pro injury history with most of his appearances on the injury report being due to his ankle injuries over the past two years.
His absence is more likely precautionary but we may get more information in the coming days.
WR Skyler Bell (Groin)
On Friday, it was revealed that Bell had been recovering from a groin injury originally sustained on August 8 during the Return of the Blue and Red according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic.
Looking at the picture posted above by Sal Capaccio, Bell appears to have a wrap on his right thigh indicating the side that he is working through. This is an injury that he could have played through in a regular season game, but the Bills are smart to hold him out to ensure he is fully healthy for Week 1.
DT Ed Oliver (Undisclosed)
Oliver did not make the trip to Cleveland this week as he works through an undisclosed injury after missing practice on August 18.
By now, everyone is aware of the unimaginable loss that the Oliver family endured in late June with the death of their two-year old son. Anyone in the media was right to not report on this story out of respect for their family.
It’s a shame that bad actors felt a “duty” to report something so private. This was not given the sensitivity that it deserved until the family was ready to share. I’m a father of three young children and I can only empathize how Ed and his family must feel. When something is known, it doesn’t mean it needs to be reported immediately or in this case, extra care was needed due to the sensitivity of the subject.
I hope that the Oliver family can grieve privately and take the time they need to process this tragedy.
Final Thoughts
The Bills continue to perform well in the preseason and injuries continue to remain at a minimum. There are several injuries that are worth monitoring including CJ Gardner-Johnson, Connor McGovern, Keon Coleman, and Ty Johnson.
We may get several additional updates on injuries from this game, but the Bills are in good shape as they head into the final preseason game Thursday. Make sure to check back for the latest injury updates.
Top Photo Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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