Bills inactives vs. New England today include S Taylor Rapp (neck), S Damar Hamlin (rib), CB Rasul Douglas (knee), and LB Matt Milano (groin). Milano's absence should mean a start for LB Dorian Williams, who was questionable with an elbow injury but is active. He carries big tackle upside into the role he played before Milano's return. Buffalo started S Cam Lewis, CB Kaiir Elam and S Cole Bishop with the same secondary trio out last week. None supplied big numbers despite a huge-volume passing day for the Lions in that one. None is probably worth attention for your Week 16 IDP lineup.
The Bills will miss CB Rasul Douglas for Sunday's game against the Lions. He has been ruled out. They might also miss both starting safeties. Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin are both questionable. Both safeties practiced in non-contact jerseys Friday and were officially limited. It was the first practice for Rapp this week. Hamlin missed Thursday's workout before going limited Friday. We'll check their statuses ahead of the game. The late-afternoon kickoff means you probably shouldn't count on either for your IDP lineup if you can help it.
HC Sean McDermott announced Monday that the Bills are opening the 21-day practice window for LB Matt Milano. The veteran tore his left biceps in August. Buffalo will now have three weeks to decide whether to activate him or end his season.
Bills LB Terrel Bernard practiced in full Friday and carries no designation on the final injury report. That means he's ready to face the Dolphins after missing last week's game at Seattle. I just updated Bernard's projection to boost him way up the Week 9 LB rankings. His return will mean no Baylon Spector in the lineup.
Bills LB Terrel Bernard left in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win over the Titans with a right ankle injury. The team ruled him out for the rest of the game. Bernard returned to the sideline still in full uniform before the end of the game. And Buffalo had the game well in hand, leading by 14 at the start of the quarter. HC Sean McDermott said after the game we'd learn more about Bernard's injury Monday. Baylon Spector would fill in if Bernard misses time.
Bills slot CB Taron Johnson is active for tonight's game against the Jets. He has been out since Week 1 with a forearm injury but should be back to his normal role.
Bills CB Taron Johnson is questionable for Monday night's game against the Jets. Joe Buscaglia of the athletic says "the long wait for [Johnson's] return looks like it will end on Monday night." Johnson -- out since Week 1 with a forearm fracture -- practiced without his non-contact jersey for the first time Thursday but remained limited all three days. We'll check his status head of Monday night's kick. Buffalo has ruled DT Ed Oliver (hamstring) out for the game.
The NFL has suspended Bills DE Von Miller four games for violating the personal-conduct policy. Although the NFL didn't announce the reason, it almost certainly stems from November 2023 allegations that Miller assaulted his pregnant girlfriend. That case never produced formal charges and has reportedly been closed. Assuming there's no change of the suspension on appeal, Miller will be eligible to return after Week 8. His absence removes a key pass rusher (3 sacks over the first four games) but doesn't significantly alter the team D value. Miller played less than 40% of the snaps each of the past three weeks, so the IDP impact should be minimal.
Bills LB Terrel Bernard left in the first half of Thursday night's game against the Dolphins with a pectoral injury. Buffalo initially deemed him questionable to return but ruled him out shortly thereafter. We'll watch for an official diagnosis before breaking down the impact. But losing Bernard would be bad for IDP managers and the Buffalo defense.
The Bills have ruled slot CB Taron Johnson out for Thursday night's game against the Dolphins. And it sounds like his forearm injury from the opener will remain an issue beyond that. HC Sean McDermott this week did not rule out the possibility of Johnson landing on IR.
Bills LB Matt Milano suffered a torn left biceps in Tuesday's practice. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that he'll have surgery "with the hope of trying to return later this season, possibly in December."
Bills LB Matt Milano was a full participant in Wednesday's practice to open training camp. HC Sean McDermott said early in spring that he didn't expect Milano to join offseason practices. But the veteran LB got into positional drills in the team's June minicamp.
The Bills are releasing S Jordan Poyer and CB Tre'Davious White. The Poyer release means Buffalo must replace both starting safeties. Micah Hyde is also a free agent and reportedly considering retirement. White struggled with injuries over the past three seasons, most recently tearing an Achilles' tendon at the beginning of October. We'll be surprised if White lands more than a supporting role anywhere in 2024 -- and perhaps beyond. We'll see how the Bills address safety this offseason. Damar Hamlin is the only safety currently under contract. The NFL's Comeback Player of the Year played just 17 defensive snaps in 2023 and likely isn't an answer for 2024.
Bills LB Terrel Bernard managed to clear the concussion protocol and is active for tonight's game against the Broncos. It's a surprisingly quick turnaround after Bernard suffered his injury in last Sunday night's loss at Cincinnati. But that should keep him as Buffalo's lead LB for the game and render Tyrel Dodson a part-timer.
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