Maybe there’s a revolving door to the training room at One Bills Drive, because the guys moving up and down the Buffalo Bills’ injury list are doing so rapidly. Here’s a look at how injured players for the Bills and their Week 1 opponents, the Baltimore Ravens, are trending with just one more day of practice before Sunday night’s game.
Buffalo Bills trending up
- CB Christian Benford (groin)
- WR Khalil Shakir (ankle)
- WR Keon Coleman (groin)
The good news out of Orchard Park, NY is that cornerback Christian Benford was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. After leaving the final practice of the preseason
early, then being listed as limited on Wednesday, there was plenty of concern among fans that the Bills wouldn’t have a starting corner back on the field Sunday night. When Thursday’s injury report was released, all of Western New York let out the breath they had been holding. Benford will start. After missing the entire summer with an ankle injury, Khalil Shakir, Buffalo’s most reliable pass catcher, has been a full participant in both practices this week. Josh Allen will have a target on Sunday, and, according to reports from members of the media who were at practice, he doesn’t look to have lost a step.
Keon Coleman was limited for a second day, but that’s actually a good sign. Coleman was most likely injured during Wednesday’s practice resulting in the limited designation yesterday. The fact that he was still practicing today means he’s doing well and headed in the right direction to be available on Sunday.
Buffalo Bills players trending down
- K Tyler Bass (hip/groin)
- CB Tre’Davious White (groin)
Tyler Bass dealt with what the team called “pelvic soreness” during the summer, keeping him from kicking in the first two preseason games. Between the Bills releasing Caden Davis, the kicker they brought to camp when Bass was sidelined, and the fact that the sixth-year kicker resumed his usual duties for the final game of the summer, it was assumed he had recovered.
Now Bass has moved from limited to not practicing and Buffalo has signed veteran kicker Matt Prater to the practice squad. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bass sidelined for another week or two.
Tre’Davious White is still not practicing. That‘s not a good sign for the veteran cornerback trying to make his return debut in Buffalo. White is also dealing with a groin injury suffered at the end of training camp. Not having practiced since August 21, is not a good sign that it will be White lining up opposite Benford Sunday. It could happen.
The Bills could simply be using overt caution. After all, they are also without rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston who started the season on Injured Reserve. But it’s not the most likely scenario. I would look for White to be inactive and Ja’Marcus Ingram to get the start.
Baltimore Ravens trending down
- TE Isaiah Likely (foot)
- FB Patrick Ricard (calf)
Neither Isaiah Likely nor Patrick Ricard have practiced in over a month. Likely broke his foot in training camp. Ricard was injured during a preseason game but was expected to begin practicing by the start of the season. With just one practice left before the season opener, I would expect them both to be listed as out by the end of Friday.
Baltimore Ravens trending up
- CB Jaire Alexander (knee)
- G Daniel Faalele (illness)
Jaire Alexander hasn’t practiced since August 9 as he’s been dealing with knee soreness. However, this week the All-Pro has participated with his teammates. Alexander was limited on Wednesday, and for the first time in nearly a month, had a full day of practice on Thursday. Whether that much work will set him back is yet to be seen, but for now, it looks like he could play Sunday.
Daniel Faalele was limited on Wednesday with an illness, but the Baltimore stating guard seems to have recovered as he was a full participant today.
Friday’s practice is going to be very telling as to what both the Bills and the Ravens active rosters will look like on Sunday night.
