Tonight’s kickoff between the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams is about 90 minutes away, but the Bills are already facing an uphill battle with key starters officially sidelined, including a defensive starter and an offensive player who usually logs a ton of snaps at receiver. The team just dropped their full inactive list, and it’s got some real hits.
Bills Receivers Hit Hard
The Bills’ receiving corps is taking a significant blow, with two veteran wideouts officially out. Joshua Palmer, a veteran receiver, popped up on the injury report this week with a shoulder issue, and he’s a scratch for tonight’s game. Even bigger, DJ Moore, another veteran, is also sitting thanks to a lingering shoulder injury. He apparently aggravated it in last week’s loss to the New England Patriots, and they can’t risk him tonight. To fill the void, rookie Skyler Bell is active for the very first time in his NFL career, and veteran Trent Sherfield Sr. got elevated from the practice squad to step up. It’s a huge test for those guys to fill such big shoes against the Rams.
Defensive Line Woes and Secondary Shuffle
The defensive side of the ball is facing even more significant losses. Defensive lineman Ed Oliver is missing time due to injury for the second time this season after suffering a knee injury last week. Remember, he already missed a game against the Detroit Lions earlier this season because of a hip issue. That’s a brutal break for Buffalo’s defensive front. Adding to the D-line concerns, Landon Jackson, after a scary moment last week where many feared he tore his ACL, actually hyperextended his knee. He was questionable for tonight and he’ll sit, with Phidarian Mathis coming up from the practice squad to fill his role. In the secondary, veteran slot corner Dee Alford hurt his ankle last week and won’t be playing either. Anthony Kendall, who just got signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad earlier today, is active in his place. On top of all that, rookie offensive lineman Jude Bowry is a healthy scratch once again, and rookie interior lineman Ar’Maj Reed-Adams is also a healthy scratch for another week, which means the Bills have had to make some serious roster moves just to fortify their group for this contest.
With these hits to both sides of the ball, the Bills have a real fight on their hands tonight against the Rams. Every player stepping up from the practice squad or getting their first active game needs to be ready to go.
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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