The Buffalo Bills haven't played a game yet, but they aren't completely healthy heading into Week 1.
Wide receiver Khalil Shakir, linebacker Terrel Bernard and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson are among the players Buffalo will monitor before opening the regular season against the Houston Texans.
The Bills visit the Texans at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13 at Reliant Stadium.
Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane provided updates on several injured players Sept. 1, and the Bills will release their first official injury report of the season on Wednesday.
Houston already knows it will be without several players. Wide receiver Jayden Higgins is out for the season with a torn ACL, while wide receiver Tank Dell and offensive tackle Braden Smith will miss at least
the first four games on injured reserve.
NFL teams have to submit a report on practice participation on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for a Sunday game. There are three levels of practice participation that can be designated: did not participate, limited participation and full participation.
A game status report is due by 4 p.m. Friday for Sunday games.
Here is the Bills vs. Texans injury update for Week 1:
Buffalo Bills injury update for Week 1
Khalil Shakir, WR, undisclosed
Shakir played in Buffalo's preseason opener against Carolina on Aug. 15 and caught two passes for 41 yards. He did not practice Aug. 18 and missed Buffalo's final two preseason games.
The Bills have not disclosed Shakir's injury. He remained out of practice Sept. 1 and Sept. 2, although he was seen working on the side.
CBS Sports reported Sept. 2 there was optimism Shakir would be available for the season opener and that the Bills were being cautious with him.
Shakir led Buffalo with 719 receiving yards last season.
Terrel Bernard, LB, undisclosed
Terrel Bernard suffered an undisclosed injury late in training camp that has left his status for Week 1 uncertain.
Bernard dealt with an injury during the offseason but was participating in team drills by the beginning of August. Bills general manager Brandon Beane said at the start of training camp that Bernard was "fine" and Buffalo was simply being careful while ramping him up.
Bernard played in the preseason opener against Carolina but later suffered another undisclosed injury.
Bills coach Joe Brady addressed Bernard's status Aug. 25 and said he wasn't concerned about the linebacker being ready for the regular season.
Bernard did not practice Sept. 1.
Beane described him as "nicked up a little bit."
"Hoping to get him back to full health, hopefully before game one, we'll see," Beane said.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson, S, lower body
C.J. Gardner-Johnson did not play in the preseason and has battled multiple lower-body injuries during his first training camp with Buffalo.
The free agent acquisition suffered a non-contact injury during practice Aug. 1 and was carted off the field. Brady said the Bills were "fortunate" Gardner-Johnson only suffered a calf strain.
Gardner-Johnson returned quickly, participating in 11-on-11 drills Aug. 6.
He later dealt with another lower-body injury. Beane said Sept. 1 the current problem was different from the injury Gardner-Johnson suffered earlier in camp.
"I think we'll know more next week, a guy like him, what exactly his status will be for game one," Beane said.
Michael Hoecht, OLB, Achilles
Michael Hoecht appears to be on track to play in Week 1 after completing the final major step in his comeback from a torn Achilles.
Hoecht spent the spring rehabilitating and participated in team drills for the first time at the beginning of training camp. Beane said in July that the Bills hoped to get Hoecht some preseason action before the regular season.
He sat out Buffalo's first two preseason games before making his return Aug. 27 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I think he passed one of those final tests of playing in that Pittsburgh game," Beane said Sept. 1. "We'll see how he gets through this week and next week. But I'm hopeful."
Ty Johnson, RB, lower body
Ty Johnson has been sidelined for a month after suffering a lower-body injury during the Bills' Return of the Blue & Red practice Aug. 8 at Highmark Stadium.
He was running a route against linebacker Joe Andreessen during a one-on-one receiving drill when he beat Andreessen and suddenly went down while pulling away along the right sideline. Johnson stayed down for about a minute before walking gingerly to the locker room with a trainer.
Johnson missed all three preseason games.
Johnson rushed for 200 yards and a touchdown on 50 carries and had 24 receptions for 263 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 2025.
Buffalo Bills injured reserve
Zane Durant, DL, neck
Zane Durant will miss at least the first four games of his rookie season.
The Bills placed the 2026 fifth-round pick on injured reserve after he suffered what Beane described as a "neck stinger" in Buffalo's preseason finale against Pittsburgh.
Durant recorded six tackles in three preseason games.
"I don't think it's out of the question that he could be back when the rules allow," Beane said.
Buffalo Bills physically unable to perform
Tyrell Shavers, WR, knee
Tyrell Shavers will miss at least the first four games while continuing his recovery from a torn ACL.
Shavers suffered the injury during Buffalo's wild-card playoff victory over Jacksonville last season and spent all of training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
Beane said at the beginning of camp he did not expect Shavers to be ready for the start of the regular season.
Buffalo Bills non-football injury
- Dorian Strong, CB, neck
Buffalo Bills suspended
Phidarian Mathis, DL
Phidarian Mathis is suspended for the first three games of the season and is eligible to return in Week 4 against the New England Patriots.
Houston Texans injury update for Week 1
Jadeveon Clowney, DE, hip/ankle
Jadeveon Clowney is expected to play against Buffalo despite dealing with hip and ankle injuries.
Clowney suffered a soft-tissue hip injury during Houston's preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders and also has been dealing with an ankle injury.
He did not practice Aug. 26 and sat out Houston's preseason finale. However, Clowney is expected to be ready for Week 1, according to KPRC 2 Houston.
Clowney returned to Houston this offseason, where the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft began his career. He had 8.5 sacks in 13 games with Dallas last season.
Wade Woodaz, LB, thumb
Rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz is expected to play in Week 1 despite undergoing surgery on a broken thumb.
Woodaz suffered the injury in Houston's preseason victory over the Raiders on Aug. 20 and underwent surgery four days later.
The fourth-round pick is expected to be available against Buffalo, although he could play with the thumb heavily taped or protected by a cast.
Houston Texans injured reserve
Jayden Higgins, WR, knee
Jayden Higgins will miss the entire season after suffering a torn ACL during a joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Higgins caught 41 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie last season and was expected to have a significant role opposite Nico Collins.
Tank Dell, WR, knee
Tank Dell will not play against Buffalo as he continues his comeback from a devastating knee injury suffered late in the 2024 season.
Dell tore his ACL, MCL and LCL when he collided with a teammate while catching a touchdown against Kansas City.
He returned to portions of practice during training camp but was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return and must miss at least the first four games.
Braden Smith, OT, foot
Braden Smith will miss the season opener because of a plantar fascia injury.
Smith was carted off the field during Houston's joint practice with the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 26. He avoided a season-ending injury but was placed on injured reserve Sept. 1.
The former Indianapolis Colts tackle signed a two-year contract with Houston during the offseason after making 105 starts in eight seasons.
Also on injured reserve:
- Ali Gaye, DE, knee
- Sam Hagen, OT
- Graham Mertz, QB
- Dylan Horton, DE
- K.C. Ossai, LB
- Ja'Marcus Ingram, S
Houston Texans physically unable to perform
- M.J. Stewart, S
- E.J. Speed, LB
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills vs. Texans injury update: Buffalo has 5 key players dealing with injuries
