With nothing to lose, the Bills can be picky about who plays and who doesn’t in Week 18
The NFL was probably not thinking that the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots would have nothing to play for when they set the division pair to play in Week 18 this season. But here we are: the Bills can’t change their postseason position (the AFC’s two seed) and the Patriots get the number-one pick in April’s NFL Draft with a loss (of course, head coach Jerod Mayo said that they will play to win on Sunday anyway).
All of that means predicting who’ll play and who won’t is a meaningless exercise this week. Bills head coach Sean McDermott already said the team will make sure that starters are getting plenty of rest, those battling injuries won’t be put in a position to aggravate them more, and that the coaching staff will use Week 18 to evaluate some players they don’t see in real-time games often — sounds like preseason disguised as Week 18.
With that in mind, here’s my best guess at what’s happening in Orchard Park, NY this week.
Thursday injury report pic.twitter.com/T060WOOIl1
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) January 2, 2025
Injured Bills trending toward playing
Anyone listed as a full participant in Thursday’s practice. McDermott said that Josh Allen will get the start as his iron-man streak (currently at 114 consecutive starts) is important to the Bills’ quarterback. Allen himself said that the streak is meaningful because he prides himself in being available for his team. If Allen is starting, the Bills are going to want the most protection possible for him for whatever amount of time he’s in, so right tackle Spencer Brown will likely start as well. Expect both to be in for just a drive or two before making way for Mitch Trubisky and some depth-level offensive linemen.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper and tight end Dalton Kincaid are a couple of players who could be the exception to the “if they are full participants they will play” thought. Cooper appeared on Thursday’s injury report with a back injury, and he did land pretty hard while catching a highlight-reel touchdown last Sunday in Buffalo’s 40-8 victory over the New York Jets. Later, Cooper told reporters that he landed hard on his tailbone.
While Cooper has only been in Buffalo since mid-October, he’s not going to be building report with his quarterback if Allen is on the sideline. Kincaid has had a series of knee injuries, one of which kept him out of a few games after the Bills’ Week 12 bye. A little rest could be in order for the second-year tight end.
Cornerback Rasul Douglas could get rest, but as he’s missed a few games lately it’s possible that the Bills want to make sure he’s on the same page as the rest of the defensive backs before next week. Everyone else on the “fully participating” list needs reps. Or the Bills need them as is the case of punter Sam Martin and (most likely) linebacker Dorian Williams.
Injured Bills on the bubble
- S Damar Hamlin (rib)
- S Taylor Rapp (neck)
- DB Cam Lewis (shoulder)
Damar Hamlin hasn’t played the past three games. If he’s healthy, the Bills might want to get him a few reps before the playoffs start. Taylor Rapp and Cam Lewis both played last week despite being limited in practice. It’s a good bet that at least one of the two will be active this week. The Bills have three safeties on their practice squad, but Sean McDermott already said that Micah Hyde will not be called up. That leaves Kareem Jackson and Lewis Cine. Despite being called up twice, Cine has yet to make an appearance on defense — in fact last Sunday he was a healthy scratch when it was decided that Rapp could play. I would guess that at least one of these three will start alongside Cole Bishop on Sunday.
Injured Bills most likely not playing
- LB Terrel Bernard (quad)
- WR Curtis Samuel (rib)
Head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that Bernard would be getting a rest week. The third-year linebacker is dealing with what’s likely a quad contusion. It’s doubtful the injury is too serious as he was upgraded to a limited participant on Thursday — anything more and he likely wouldn’t work at all this week. A week of rest will be good and hopefully the Bills’ defensive captain won’t miss any playoff games this year.
Curtis Samuel took a hit in the Bills’ first game against the Patriots two weeks ago. He wasn’t active last week, and there’s not much point in him being active this week. What could change that is the Bills only have one wide receiver on the practice squad with any availability, in K.J. Hamler. While Jalen Virgil has spent time on the Bills’ active roster, his eligibility didn’t reset when he was later cut and subsequently signed back to the practice squad. Tyrell Shavers was elevated for the third time in Week 17 — and scored his first NFL touchdown. It may come down to Cooper versus Samuel in who the Bills decide to use Sunday.
We may get a better idea of what Sean McDermott and Company are planning when they announce game-day designations on Friday afternoon. Until then, we can all keep guessing and playing “if I were the coach.”