Buffalo’s Monday Night Football matchup against the Los Angeles Rams is looking rough already, with two veteran starters ruled out and three more players carrying questionable designations, including their top receiver. Coach Joe Brady dropped the news after Saturday’s practice: Ed Oliver and Joshua Palmer won’t see the field in Week 5. Oliver’s battling a knee injury from last Sunday, and Palmer’s shoulder issue popped up just Friday. Rough timing for a crucial game.
The WR1 Rollercoaster Hits a Major Bump
The biggest headache has to be DJ Moore. He’s questionable *again* for this week, a story we’ve heard before. The guy hasn’t missed a game since 2020, but maybe he should have. Last week, Moore followed a similar practice routine, was questionable, started the game, and then didn’t last long. He headed to the locker room after aggravating that same shoulder injury he’s been trying to play through. That’s just not what you want to hear for a Bills offense that finally thought it had a true WR1. Who steps up there now, right? It’s a huge blow to their offensive plans heading into prime time.
Question Marks All Over the Defense, Too
It’s not just the offense taking hits. Dee Alford, the Bills’ nickel corner, is also questionable. Here’s the kicker: Buffalo doesn’t have anyone clearly lined up behind Alford on their depth chart. Last Sunday, we saw them throwing Damar Hamlin into the slot to cover that spot. That kind of shuffling around is never ideal, especially when you’re facing a Rams team ready to exploit any weakness. Then there’s Landon Jackson, another guy listed as questionable. There were whispers he might have torn his ACL last week, but he actually returned to the game. After one day of not practicing, he got in two limited sessions this week. So, maybe it’s not as bad as some feared, but a questionable tag still means uncertainty on the defensive line.
A Couple of Bright Spots for Buffalo
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Coach Brady did confirm some positive news. Christian Benford, the Bills’ corner, is set to play. He missed last week with a toe injury, but it seems that walking boot he was sporting a couple of weeks ago made it look worse than it actually was. That’s a solid return for the secondary. And for the fans, get ready for some fresh blood: rookie wide receiver Skyler Bell will be active this week. This is huge for the fourth-round pick out of UConn, as it’ll be his first taste of regular season NFL action. He’s been saying he’s ready for weeks, and now on Monday night, we finally get to see what he’s got. It’ll be a tough game against the Rams, but at least there are a few things for Bills fans to look forward to amidst all the injury worries.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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