Bills vs. Jets: Buffalo lists three safeties as questionable for Week 17

Safety is still a concern for Buffalo; New York has bigger problems.

The Buffalo Bills and New York Jets have battled injuries in preparing for their Week 17 matchup. The game, which is Buffalo’s final home game of the season, could lock in Buffalo’s playoff position. A win means that the Bills are the AFC’s two seed and would keep them playing at Highmark Stadium until the conference championship game.

However, to get that win, One Bills Drive may need to call on an old friend. Safety Micah Hyde never officially retired, and three weeks ago the Bills signed the free agent to their practice squad. While head coach Sean McDermott was adamant that he had absolutely no expectations for Hyde during his return, and while it appeared that the 33-year-old veteran seemed content to be serving in a mentor-like role, that may need to change in a hurry.

On Friday, before the Bills took to the practice field, McDermott listed three of Buffalo’s four active safeties as questionable for Sunday. Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin have missed the past two games after being injured in Buffalo’s 44-42 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14. While the Bills gave up 42 points to the Detroit Lions in Week 15, they did contain rookie quarterback Drake Maye and the New England Patriots to just 21 points in Week 16. However, in the process, back-up safety (and nickel cornerback) Cam Lewis was injured.

With Rapp, Hamlin, and Lewis all questionable for Sunday, that leaves just rookie Cole Bishop available. Cornerback Rasul Douglas will return to play this week (he too has missed the last two games) which will free up Ja’Marcus Ingram to be more available. Ingram is another versatile defensive back on Buffalo’s roster, however he tends to play more in a nickel position for Taron Johnson or in dime situations when not replacing the injured Douglas.

So, that means Buffalo will have to go to its practice squad Saturday afternoon. The Bills have 15-year veteran Kareem Jackson on their practice squad. The 36-year-old safety has been elevated each of the past two weeks, recording four combined tackles in total. While Jackson played 32 defensive snaps in his first game active as a Bill, he was only in the game on special teams in Week 16, recording eight snaps with that unit.

The Bills also have 25-year-old Lewis Cine on their practice squad. Cine has only been called up for one game — the loss to the Rams in Week 14 — where he recorded 16 snaps on special teams. Obviously, the Bills didn’t see enough to bring him back to the active roster when they needed safety help the following two games.

That brings us back to Micah Hyde — the only other safety on any of Buffalo’s rosters. Hyde hasn’t played a single down of football since January. But he’s Micah Hyde. And his knowledge, matched up against the knowledge of another senior player — Jets’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers — may be what Buffalo’s looking for this weekend.

Unless Rapp and Hamlin get rid of those quesiton marks. But honestly, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to see the Bills sit them another week as they will want their primary players back for the playoffs in two weeks. And, what better time to test Hyde’s legs than at home, against a familiar foe.

Here’s a look at all of the injury designations for this weekend’s Bills vs. Jets game.

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Buffalo Bills ruled out

• NONE

No one has been ruled out. That means that there’s a chance the Bills’ could have their entire starting roster on the field Sunday. It’s not the most likely scenario, but it is a possibility.

Buffalo Bills listed as questionable

• S Damar Hamlin (neck)
• DB Cam Lewis (shoulder)
• S Taylor Rapp (neck)
• WR Curtis Samuel (rib)

Along with the safeties, the Bills have ruled Curtis Samuel as questionable. The wide receiver has had plenty of injuries this season – his first as a Bill. This latest injury came as he caught a pass from Josh Allen inside the five yard line back in Week 15. Sameul didn’t play in Buffalo’s 24-21 win over the Patriots Sunday and now he may sit out a second straight – fourth on the season – game.

Buffalo Bills cleared to play

There are a host of Bills on the injury list that are still getting attention for an array of injuries. None of them have been in jeopardy of not playing this weekend. There were, however, a coupld of new names on the list this week – but they’ve been cleared to play. And, there are a couple of players who missed the last game (or two) but have now been cleared to play Week 17.

• QB Josh Allen (right elbow/right shoulder)
• P Sam Martin (back)
• LB Matt Milano (biceps/groin)
• CB Rausl Douglas (knee)

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The Jets have their own set of injuries that may be changing their game plans (or at least their roster) for Sunday. Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich announced that both wide receiver Devante Adams and cornerback Sauce Gardner are questionable for Sunday.

Adams showed up on the Jets’ injury report this week with a hip injury after having caught seven passes for 68 yards and the Jets’ lone touchdown in their 19-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16. Gardner left the same game early with a hamstring injury. With no practice on Christmas Day, that may have given both Adams and Gardner a little extra restb— but how well they will be able to run on a wet field in Orchard Park, NY on Sunday is very much in question.

Ulbrich also announced that kicker Greg Zuerlein will be the Jets kicker moving forward. The 13-year veteran has been on Injured Reserve with a knee injury since Week 8. Zuerlein had tried to play through the injury, but after only making 9-of-15 field goal attempts up to that point in the year, New York made the decision to shut him down while he healed. Now the Jets’ interim coach said that the 37 year old is kicking well and will be returned to the active roster before Sunday.

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Transactions, including practice squad elevations, returning players to the active roster — and subsequent releases/waivers to make room for them, will most likely be announced on Saturday afternoon. It will be 11:30 a.m. EST on Sunday before we know exactly who will be in uniform come kickoff.