Sean McDermott
Geoff Stellfox/Getty
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 17: Head coach Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills looks on during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on August 17, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
On the eve of a critical NFL opening-week matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens, the Bills catch a break in the form on some injury news. Per ESPN’s Benjamin Solak, the Ravens will be without TE Isaiah Likely and RB Patrick Ricard on Sunday night.
Likely suffered a broken foot in training camp and had to be carted off the field. He underwent surgery to repair it just over a month ago, and shouldn’t have to spend any time on Injured Reserve (IR), meaning he could return within the next four games. As Jonas Shaffer notes, Likely is beginning individual on-field ramp-up work, but his drills are still limited and he’s not practicing with the team.
Ricard, on the other hand, is dealing with a mysterious calf injury. When pressed on it, Ravens HC John Harbaugh said ominously, “Why don’t we just leave that for later.” The lack of public information on Ricard’s injury is confusing, and there doesn’t appear to be a clear timeline on his return to the field. For now, all we know is he won’t play on Sunday.
Likely and Ricard Being Out Gives the Buffalo Bills a Huge Matchup Advantage
Isaiah Likely
Al Bello/GettyORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: Isaiah Likely #80 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball against Christian Benford #47 of the Buffalo Bills in the first quarter during the AFC Divisional Playoff at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
As Solak notes, losing both Likely and Ricard is a huge blow to what the Ravens want to do against the Bills. They like to go heavy in general, but particularly against Buffalo, where they feel like can create some advantageous matchups with heavy personnel.
The Ravens run a lot of two-tight end and two-back (with a fullback) sets, but Ricard being out means they won’t have a fullback available. Likely missing the game means Baltimore will have to rely on backup TE Charlie Kolar a lot more than usual, as he’ll pair with TE Mark Andrews in the role Likely typically plays.
Previewing the SNF Matchup Between the Bills and Ravens
The highlight in this game are the two quarterbacks — Bills QB Josh Allens and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson are two of the three or four best quarterbacks in the league. These offenses are high-flying, productive units, with powerful offensive lines and diverse schemes to attack defenses in multiple ways.
But this game might be decided by the defenses. The Ravens have a veteran unit, especially in the secondary. They are deep and experienced, with playmakers all over the field. The Bills don’t have as many big names on the depth chart, but they’re just as good. Their pass rush is a strength and they have lots of dudes at cornerback, which should help them cover Baltimore’s receivers one-on-one and leave more defenders to contain Jackson.
This game feels like a true coin flip — though it is being played in Buffalo, giving the Bills a nice little home-field advantage. Whichever team wins will have a critical tiebreaker for AFC playoff seeding purposes.