As the 2024 NFL season draws near, when it rains it pours. The injuries for the Buffalo Bills continue to mount.
The Bills have a number of crucial injury concerns that could potentially bleed into the regular season.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott noted in his Monday video conference that receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, receiver Curtis Samuel, and second-string quarterback Mitchell Trubisky are all considered week-to-week with their various injuries.
Some of the players got hurt during the team’s second preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night, some occurred previously. They are the latest in what has already been a difficult spring and summer for the Bills.
Given the fact that Trubisky is dealing with a knee injury, McDermott said the Bills may be forced to address the quarterback position. Ben DiNucci, who has not seen a lot of live action, is the only other quarterback on the roster behind starter Josh Allen.
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Valdes-Scantling has a neck injury and Samuel is suffering from turf toe.
Safety Damar Hamlin, linebacker Baylon Spector, and tight end Quintin Morris are also week-to-week, with McDermott saying that Morris is undergoing further test and evaluation.
Edge rusher Javon Solomon and defensive tackle Austin Johnson are both scheduled to have limited and altered roles in practice this week. Safety Mike Edwards, safety Cole Bishop, and linebacker Nick Morrow can take part in the walk-through portion. It is a possibility that defensive end Casey Toohill may return later this week.
“The biggest challenge is having a player hurt is one thing, but having a new player hurt who doesn’t know what we’re doing systematically is another challenge,” McDermott said. “So, we’re trying to capture every rep we can, just using them in walk-through this week, because we’re getting closer and closer to the season here.”
With the stockpile of injuries, McDermott said the Bills will not play their starters in this week’s preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.
“You got the safety position where you’re hoping that they’re back, but do they know enough to go out there and execute,” McDermott said. “And then you’ve got a position like Mitch [Trubisky], where typically you only carry one [backup] on the active [roster], in addition to Josh, your starter. And so, is it going to marry up to Mitch being ready to go in time? I don’t know that for sure.
“So, we just got to, like all these things stay on them and communicate one day at a time here and get continual updates from [head athletic trainer Nate Breske], our training staff. It affects a lot of things. It affects practice, it affects the game this weekend, and it’ll potentially affect the start of the season for a lot of those positions.”
