The Buffalo Bills placed rookie defensive tackle T.J. Sanders and safety Damar Hamlin on Injured Reserve (IR) ahead of their Week 6 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Those moves were made official late
in the afternoon on Saturday, October 11, following a report from head coach Sean McDermott that it was the expected path for both defenders.
Hamlin appeared on the Bills’ injury report for Thursday, October 9, apparently dealing with a pectoral ailment of unknown severity. He did manage to participate in limited fashion on Thursday, but was downgraded to “DNP” for both sessions on Friday and Saturday. Hamlin was then listed as “Out” for Week 7 before landing on IR.
Sanders has been part of Buffalo’s injury reports dating back to Thursday, October 2. He was listed as a limited participant both Thursday and Friday last week, landing with a questionable designation on Saturday, October 4 ahead of the team’s Week 5 game against the New England Patriots.
Sanders was ultimately inactive last Sunday, which then led to a series of “DNP” designations on the Week 6 injury report. McDermott explained to the media that Sanders had been dealing with a knee injury for “some time,” but that it wasn’t until last week where it had really begun to bother him.
When the injury report for Saturday, October 11 hit, Sanders was listed as “Out” for Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons. Now, we also know that he’ll miss at least the next four games following the required four-game stint on IR.
Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reported that McDermott stated Sanders “needed surgery to repair his knee, though he did not rule the rookie out for returning this season.” McDermott didn’t sound as confident about Hamlin’s chances when asked if Sanders or he were done for the season, with Buscaglia stating “he doesn’t know for sure on both, but feels better about Sanders returning than Hamlin.”
That all said, it’s important to remind that neither Hamlin or Sanders’ injuries have been termed season-ending at this point in time.
With Sanders and Hamlin both headed to IR, that leaves room for One Bills Drive to sign defensive end Michael Hoecht and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi to the 53-man active roster following the game on Monday, October 13. After signing free-agent deals with the Bills this past spring, Hoecht and Ogunjobi began the season on the NFL suspended/designated to return list. In a cruel twist, both players tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, and had to serve six-game suspensions.
In looking over the rest of Buffalo’s latest injury report, the great news is that starting defensive tackle Ed Oliver had no injury designation and was listed as a “Full” participant. Other positive developments are that it appears linebacker Dorian Williams is ready to go after two “Full” practice designations following a knee issue that had him limited for Thursday. That’s key since starting linebacker Matt Milano has apparently injured his pectoral again, and he’s been downgrade to “Out” for Week 6.
Tight end Dalton Kincaid and wide receiver Curtis Samuel are both listed as “Questionable” for Monday’s game in Atlanta. Each were designated as “Limited” participants for practice Saturday, with that as an upgrade for Sanders who was a “DNP” the day before. Kincaid is dealing with an oblique injury, while Sanders is listed with both neck and ribs injuries.
The Bills have until 90 minutes before kickoff Monday evening to announce inactives.
