The Buffalo Bills head into their Week 2 game against the New York Jets with game-day injury designations for five players. During his press conference on Friday, head coach Sean McDermott announced that defensive tackle Ed Oliver had been ruled out
for Week 2. Oliver was injured when someone stepped on him during Wednesday’s practice, and he’s now hobbling around One Bills Drive in a walking boot.What McDermott didn’t reveal in Friday’s presser (most likely because the team’s medical staff was going
to do evaluations after the Bills’ final practice of the week) is that four players would be listed as questionable. We know now that nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, cornerback Tre’Davious White, defensive back Jordan Hancock, and linebacker Shaq Thompson are all questionable to play in Week 2.
Taron Johnson has progressed from being a non-participant in the early part of the week to being limited in the final two practices, one of which was a walkthrough, while dealing with a quad injury. Johnson missed five games in 2024 thanks to injuries (four of which were due to a fractured forearm) so potentially missing time early again this season is not ideal. That said, we know that when it comes to Taron Johnson, he’ll do everything in his power to be in uniform Sunday.
As one of Johnson’s primary backups, rookie Jordan Hancock is questionable after spending Thursday and Friday limited with a shoulder injury that wasn’t on the team’s daily report for Wednesday. If neither Johnson nor Hancock can go on Sunday afternoon, that leaves the Bills with only veteran Cam Lewis at nickel.
Of course, the Bills could run with extra linebackers, except that one of those is also listed as questionable for Sunday. Shaq Thompson is dealing with both a hamstring injury and a hand injury. That leaves the Bills with just four healthy linebackers on the roster: Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, and Joe Andreessen. It’s possible that we see Jimmy Ciarlo called up from the practice squad this week.
The other questionable designation this week belongs to Tre’Davious White. This is an upgrade for White who was listed as doubtful and missed the opener last weekend. White was limited all week as he continues to rehab a groin injury suffered at the end of training camp. While the former first-round draft pick is anxious to get back on the field in a Bills uniform, the team isn’t going to rush him back before he’s ready.
Remember, teams have until 90 minutes before kickoff to announce their game day rosters, so it will be 11:30 a.m. EDT when we find out for sure who’s in and who’s out for Week 2.
