Well, the Buffalo Bills had the game of the year last Sunday, but they were on the losing end. Along with the L the Bills had to fly home with, after spending the last three weeks working on building back a healthy roster, they brought back some new injuries to key players.
But it’s not all bad news at One Bills Drive. Buffalo opened the practice window on the two players they had remaining on Injured Reserve (IR), and all previously injured/limited players were upgraded to full participants
Here’s a first look at this week’s injury list as the Bills get ready to take on the Detroit Lions in Week 15.
New Buffalo Bills names on the Week 15 Injury List
CB Rasul Douglas (knee)
S Damar Hamlin (back)
DE Duwuane Smoot (wrist)*
LB Baylon Spector (calf)*
DE Casey Toohill (ribs)
Rasul Douglas was the victim of some friendly fire from safety Taylor Rapp in Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Douglas first left the game with what was thought to be a back injury after he and Rapp collided while trying to break up a Matthew Stafford touchdown pass. After being cleared to return, Douglas later left and was listed as doubtful with a knee injury.
#Bills Rasul Douglas L knee injury
Last series was unremarkable. T Johnson clips him on 2D, hits his L ankle.
Can see on final play, 2nd , Douglas flexing out L knee.
Looked back at end zone play, Kupp’s hip lands on L knee. Prob began to swell & realizing it wasn’t right. pic.twitter.com/8uUllDDQx9
— Banged Up Bills (@BangedUpBills) December 9, 2024
Damar Hamlin’s back injury is new as it was never mentioned in Sunday’s game. However, with the safety getting a full day of practice, it’s probably more an issue of sore than injury. As for defensive end Casey Toohill, he left the game around the same time as Douglas. Wednesday he was limited.
#Bills Casey Toohill rib inj
Toohill grabs Williams w R arm, gets dragged down
At some point he gets hit in lower chest area bc he came up touching R middle chest & comes off
Rib cartilage in area, slow to heal, likely to miss time.
AJ Epenesa missed 2 gms in ‘23 w same inj pic.twitter.com/EzoZRldcDB
— Banged Up Bills (@BangedUpBills) December 9, 2024
As for Duwuane Smoot and Baylon Spector, both had their 21-day practice window opened today as they are trying to make a return to the active roster before the end of the NFL season. While Smoot is confident in his readiness to return, and the Bills may be short Toohill this week, they would have to make room on the active roster for that to happen.
There’s some confidence in those answers.
4 weeks is a little aggressive considering the thought is that he suffered a distal radius fracture.
Curious to see how the hand fighting, blocking, and tackling is. #Bills https://t.co/BrQsiqVIA0
— Banged Up Bills (@BangedUpBills) December 11, 2024
Buffalo Bills players now off injury list in Week 15
OT Spencer Brown (previous designation: ankle)
FB Reggie Gilliam (previous designation: hip)
Casey Toohill (previous designation: knee)
While Toohill picked up a rib injury in Los Angeles, his knee appears to no longer be something for the team to monitor. It’s also great news that Brown’s ankle is as close to 100% as you could expect after 13-plus weeks of professional football. Gilliam has been on the daily reports with a hip injury since Week 9, but appears to have finally been cleared.
Buffalo Bills players on the Week 15 injury list in need of monitoring
S Taylor Rapp (neck/shoulder)
Rapp was limited all week last week with neck and shoulder injuries but managed to enter the weekend without a designation. After his end zone collision with Douglas, he got some attention from trainers but was ultimately cleared to return. Now he’s sitting out practice with the same — potentially worsened — injuries as last week.
Buffalo Bills players who are status quo on Week 15 injury list
DT DeWayne Carter (wrist)
WR Keon Coleman (wrist)
WR Amari Cooper (wrist)
OL Tylan Grable (groin) - IR (practice window expires 12/17)
TE Dalton Kincaid (knee)
LB Matt Milano (biceps)
TE Quintin Morris (shoulder/groin)
WR Curtis Samuel (foot)
The good news here is that Coleman and Kincaid are both full participants — as is everyone on this list. No red non-contact jerseys, no limited catching or route running. After a game where Josh Allen had 424 yards of offense and six touchdowns, he may be getting two more weapons back in his arsenal ahead of what is likely to be another offensive showdown on Sunday.
As for Sunday’s hosts, the Detroit Lions, they have a very short and simple injury report to start Week 15.
Lions players not practicing
DT DJ Reader (shoulder)
Reader had two sacks in Detroit’s Week 13 win over the Chicago Bears, but in the process the 9-year veteran injured his shoulder. The injury kept him sidelined for Week 14, and it’s looking like it’s going to be another week of inactivity for Reader.
Lions players limited in practice
DT Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring)
DE Joshua Paschal (knee)
Paschal was injured in Week 13 and, like Reader, got a pass last week. Onwuzurike has been sidelined with a hamstring injury. Good news for Detroit is that both were limited to start Week 15. Obviously, the Lions would like to have as many linemen as possible healthy in order to keep fresh legs in the game in an attempt to throttle Josh Allen’s explosive offense.
Lions players injured, but full participants in practice
OT Taylor Decker (knee)
DT Alim McNeill (concussion)
Decker was injured in Week 11 after being rolled up on during a strip-sack of Detroit quarterback Jared Goff. Decker tried to continue playing, but wasn’t able to stay in the game long. It’s been two weeks since the veteran lineman played football but it looks like the Lions could have him for Sunday’s game with Buffalo.
With two more official practices this week, it’s going to be a key to watch and scrutinize every practice to see who’s ready to play on Sunday. Will Josh Allen get all his weapons back on the field? Will Jared Goff get his veteran protection back? What are the defensive rosters for both teams going to look like?