Injuries seem to be how football-fate has chosen to test the Buffalo Bills. As such, it should come as no surprise that while preparing to host the Baltimore Ravens in primetime for Sunday Night Football on NBC, the Bills are once again juggling several.
It’s never ideal to begin the season with an injury list, but that’s life in the NFL. Here’s a first look at what injuries both teams are managing as they finalize game plans for Week 1.
Bills injuries to monitor this week
- K Tyler Bass (left hip/groin)
- CB Christian Benford (groin)
- DT DeWayne Carter (Achilles)
- WR Khalil Shakir (ankle)
- WR Keon Coleman (groin)
- CB Tre’Davious White (groin)
While head coach Sean McDermott gave a preview of the Bills’
injuries in his morning press conference, there was one name that appeared at the end of the day that’s caused a lot of stir: Keon Coleman. The second-year wide receiver was listed as limited with a groin injury on Wednesday’s injury report. With McDermott not listing him this morning, and no member of the media who was present for the early portion of practice making mention of Coleman, it is easy to assume that the injury occurred today.
That’s not good news for Buffalo’s offense as we’ve heard all summer how Coleman appears set for a breakout season. We didn’t get much of a look at him during the preseason and now it’s possible we may not get a good look this week either.
Tyler Bass only played in the final preseason game as he’s been dealing with pelvic soreness for the entire summer. In the first game, it was running back Ray Davis who tested out his kicking skills. Buffalo also had brought in another kicker, rookie Caden Davis, who covered the majority of the kicking duties in both games. The Bills released Caden Davis on August 20. With Bass listed as limited today, it’s likely that the soreness is just something the team is being conservative with and that Bass will be fine on Sunday, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye on.
Tre’Davious White has been dealing with an injury for almost two weeks now. While it wasn’t originally clear exactly what happened, we are now seeing it listed as a groin injury. That’s not great news for the former All-Pro who missed most of two of the last three seasons due to injuries. However, it’s also not devastating news, and explains why McDermott said that he wasn’t ruling him out for Week 1.
Christian Benford was limited on Wednesday with what the team now lists as a groin injury. Head coach Sean McDermott had (apparently) misclassified it as a “lower leg injury” in his pre-practice press conference.
Having both starting cornerbacks banged up before the season even begins – and their first-round draft pick on Injured Reserve (IR) – definitely isn’t ideal. Hopefully, we see Benford progress over the next two days and he gets some full practice reps in before the end of the week.
Khalil Shakir missed all of the preseason with a high ankle sprain. Now he’s a full participant at practice ahead of Sunday’s home opener, so that’s one positive on the injury front for the Bills.
DeWayne Carter is heading to IR. It’s just a matter of when the Bills get around to doing the paperwork. Carter tore his Achilles in practice and has already had surgery. He won’t be back until next season, but until the team officially places him on IR, they will have to keep listing him on the daily injury reports.
Buffalo Bills on IR
- CB Maxwell Hairston (knee)
- OT Tylan Grable
- DB Wande Owens
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As for the Baltimore Ravens, they are dealing with a few injuries themselves.
Ravens players not practicing:
- TE Isaiah Likely (foot)
- FB Patrick Ricard (soft tissue)
Isaiah Likely broke his foot at the end of July and hasn’t practiced since. Patrick Ricard hasn’t been able to practice since August 14. While it had been thought that Ricard would begin practicing this week, it appears he still isn’t up to form — something that could be concerning for the Ravens.
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With two more days of practice before the Ravens head to Western New York and the Bills get ready to open the Farewell Season at the current Highmark Stadium, there’s plenty of time for the status of injured players to change.
