The Buffalo Bills are heading into Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams missing two veteran starters, a brutal hit for a team looking to make a statement in Week 5. Head coach Joe Brady confirmed after Saturday’s practice that defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who’s been nursing a knee injury since last Sunday, and wide receiver Joshua Palmer, who popped up on Friday’s report with a shoulder issue, are both officially out. That’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s only the start of the injury headaches in Buffalo.
Is DJ Moore Really Playing Through This Shoulder Injury?
What’s really got fans on edge is the status of DJ Moore, who’s once again listed as questionable. It’s the same exact story as last week, which is seriously concerning. The dude hasn’t missed a game since 2020, which is wild, but you gotta wonder if he *shouldn’t* be sitting this one out. Last week, Moore followed the same practice routine, was questionable, and then started the game. But he barely lasted, heading to the locker room after aggravating that same shoulder injury he’s apparently been trying to gut through. That’s a huge problem for a Bills offense that thought they finally had a true WR1. You can’t be at your best when you’re playing hurt, and watching him try to power through just to get knocked out again is a brutal cycle.
Depth Chart Concerns Mount for Buffalo’s Defense
The injury bug isn’t just hitting their offense, either. Dee Alford, the Bills’ nickel corner, is also questionable, and that’s a massive hole with no one else lined up behind him on the depth chart. Last Sunday, we saw them throw Damar Hamlin into the slot, which tells you everything you need to know about their current depth crisis there. Then there’s Landon Jackson, a second-year defensive lineman, who also got the questionable designation. There were whispers he might have torn his ACL last week, which is always terrifying, but he actually managed to return to the game. He had one day as a DNP and then logged two limited practices this week. That’s a relief, but still, those “questionable” tags pile up and create a ton of uncertainty heading into a prime-time game.
A Couple of Bright Spots for Buffalo
It’s not all doom and gloom, though there are a couple of positive updates from Brady. Corner Christian Benford is set to play, which is great news. He missed last week with a toe injury, but it looks like it wasn’t as bad as that walking boot from two weeks ago made everyone think. And get this: rookie wide receiver Skyler Bell, a fourth-round pick out of UConn, is finally going to be active! This will be his first NFL regular season action. The kid has been saying he’s ready to go for weeks, and Monday night, we finally find out what he can do. With Moore’s situation, they might actually need him more than ever. It’s Monday Night Football, and the Bills are going to have to dig deep and rally around whoever’s healthy if they want to get past the Rams and keep their momentum going.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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