The Buffalo Bills are entering their first AFC East matchup of the season with a mostly healthy roster, but there are a few injuries worth monitoring ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the New England Patriots.
Buffalo has no players officially ruled out, but cornerback Christian Benford and running back Ray Davis are both listed as questionable. Defensive lineman T.J. Sanders is doubtful after recently undergoing an appendectomy.
Christian Benford remains questionable
The biggest concern for Buffalo is in the secondary.
Benford suffered a toe injury during last Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers and did not return to the game. He also did not practice throughout the week, making his availability against New England uncertain.
Despite not practicing, Bills coach Joe Brady has not ruled Benford out.
The team plans to take his status all the way up until game day before making a final decision.
If Benford cannot play, Buffalo could once again turn to rookie cornerback Davison Igbinosun. The second-round pick stepped into a larger role against the Chargers after Benford went down and finished with five tackles and a pass breakup.
That experience could prove valuable if Buffalo is forced to make another adjustment in the secondary.
Ray Davis, T.J. Sanders also on injury report
Running back Ray Davis is another player Buffalo will monitor Sunday.
Davis is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury after being limited in practice. He did participate fully Thursday before being limited Friday.
Davis’ potential absence would leave Buffalo with less depth behind James Cook, who is coming off a massive performance against Los Angeles. Cook rushed for 154 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries in the Bills’ Week 3 victory.
Meanwhile, defensive lineman T.J. Sanders is doubtful after undergoing an appendectomy nearly two weeks ago. Sanders was limited in both Thursday and Friday’s practices.
The Bills have otherwise received some encouraging news throughout the week.
Josh Allen cleared as Bills get good news
Perhaps the most important positive development is that quarterback Josh Allen does not carry a game designation heading into Sunday.
There was some concern about Allen’s lower body after the Chargers game, but the quarterback practiced without a game status designation this week.
Wide receiver Keon Coleman is also expected to play despite an ankle injury. Brady said Friday that Coleman “will be ready to rock for the game.”
Buffalo will therefore enter Sunday’s matchup with no players officially ruled out.
That’s significant for a 3-0 team preparing for its first division game of the season. The Bills will hope Benford can join Allen and Coleman on the field, but if he can’t, Buffalo has already given Igbinosun valuable experience in case his number is called again.
