Democrat and Chronicle

Bills vs. Jets injury update: Two more starting skill players miss practice for Buffalo

By Ryan Miller, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,

2 days ago

The Buffalo Bills welcomed one defensive starter back last week.

Buffalo is hoping two more return to help restore its depleted defense in Week 6. But two more Bills offensive starters have popped up on the injury report.

Buffalo has an extra day of rest this week and plays at the New York Jets at 8:15 p.m. Monday.

It's the third straight road game for the Bills, who lost the first two .

Linebacker Terrel Bernard had an immediate impact in his first game since suffering a pectoral strain in Week 2. Bernard had five tackles, including one for loss, and intercepted C.J. Stroud in the fourth quarter.

Wide receiver Khalil Shakir , defensive tackle Ed Oliver, nickel corner Taron Johnson, safety Taylor Rapp and defensive tackle Austin Johnson all missed the last-second 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans Sunday. They played with four rookie defensive linemen in the rotation, rookie safety Cole Bishop and backups at linebacker and nickel corner.

Johnson is on pace to play and Rapp has cleared concussion protocol.

Running back James Cook and wide receiver Curtis Samuel missed practice on Wednesday with foot/toe injuries, Sean McDermott said.

In addition to injuries, edge rusher Von Miller is serving a four-game suspension .

The Jets are playing with a backup head coach after Robert Saleh was fired and are banged up on defense. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is dealing with a sprained ankle .

NFL teams have to submit a report on practice participation on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for a Monday game. There are three levels of practice participation that can be designated: did not participate, limited participation and full participation.

A game status report is due by 5 p.m. Saturday for Monday games.

Here is the Bills vs. Jets injury report for Week 6:

Buffalo Bills injury update for Week 6

Khalil Shakir, WR, ankle

Khalil Shakir injured his right ankle while being tackled after making a catch against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4. He had his right ankle taped by athletic trainers and returned to the game, leading the Bills with four catches for 62 yards. Shakir was spotted wearing a walking boot after the game.

Shakir did not play in Week 5.

"I think he's improving," Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Monday. "We'll have to see how the week goes."

Status: Did not practice Thursday

James Cook, RB, toe

James Cook didn't leave with an injury against the Texans but suffered a foot/toe injury and did not practice Wednesday. Cook ranks 15th in the league with 309 rushing yards and has five total touchdowns.

Status: Did not practice Thursday

Curtis Samuel, WR, toe

Curtis Samuel didn't leave with an injury against the Texans but suffered a foot/toe injury and did not practice Wednesday. Samuel has nine catches for 48 yards in his first year with the Bills after back-to-back seasons of at least 600 receiving yards with the Washington Commanders.

Status: Limited participant Thursday

Josh Allen, QB

Josh Allen's head slammed against the turf in the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans in Week 5. He remained on the ground as he was tended to by athletic trainers and after making his way to the bench, was redirected to the medical tent to be checked for a concussion. Allen missed one Bills offensive play and was medically cleared to return. Head coach Sean McDermott said Allen is not in the league's concussion protocol .

"Josh was cleared and went back into the game," McDermott said. "That's what I know from our medical staff."

Allen said he injured his chest and ankle earlier in the drive.

"Big shot to the chest. Rolled my ankle," Allen told reporters after the game. "They flagged me for hitting my head, but felt good enough to go back in."

Status: Full participant Thursday

Austin Johnson, DT, oblique

Austin Johnson did not play in Week 5.

Status: Limited participant Thursday

Taylor Rapp, S, head

Taylor Rapp has cleared concussion protocol and was limited at practice Wednesday, McDermott said.

Rapp suffered a concussion taking on Ravens running back Derrick Henry 1-on-1 in Week 4.

Rapp lowered his shoulder and made an open field tackle, hitting Henry's upper thigh with his left shoulder. Rapp was slow to get up but walked off the field with medical staff and headed to the medical tent and the locker room. The Bills downgraded Rapp to out for the remainder of the game with a concussion.

Status: Full participant Thursday

Taron Johnson, CB, forearm

Taron Johnson was injured seven plays into Week 1 while attempting to tackle Cardinals' wide receiver Greg Dortch. Johnson didn't return to the game. Head coach Sean McDermott didn't give a timetable for the starting nickel back's return but Johnson was not placed on injured reserve, which would have required him to miss four weeks. That means the Bills thought he may return before a four-game absence but Johnson has missed the last four games.

Johnson did not play in Week 2 , Week 3, Week 4 and Week 5.

Johnson was a limited participant Wednesday.

"We'll see how he does this week," McDermott said Monday regarding chances Johnson returns against the Jets. "He's improving, take it one day at a time."

“After a week not playing and then again today, I'm feeling good, feeling better, feeling like I'm about ready to go,” Johnson said Wednesday. “We're gonna take it a day at a time.”

Status: Limited participant Thursday

Ed Oliver, DT, hamstring

Ed Oliver suffered a hamstring injury during practice Oct. 3, and was ruled out for Week 5 against the Texans.

Status: Did not practice Thursday

Mack Hollins, WR, shoulder

Status: Limited participant Thursday

Injured reserve

The following Bills players are on injured reserve:

Tylan Grable, OT
Travis Clayton, OT
Matt Milano, LB
Shane Buechele, QB
Tommy Doyle, OT

New York Jets injury update for Week 6

Aaron Rodgers, QB, ankle

Aaron Rodgers sprained his left ankle in New York's 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London in Week 5. Rodgers said it's a low ankle sprain . Rodgers took a hit to his left side as he released a pass and his knees bent awkwardly as he was stretched backward at the waist. Rodgers yelled in pain and grabbed his left left.

Rodgers was examined by medical staff and walked off under his own power. He didn't miss any plays and entered the medical tent briefly following the Jets' next possession. Rodgers completed 29 of 54 passes for 244 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

“Definitely banged up,” Rodgers said.

Now-fired Jets head coach Robert Saleh said Monday preliminary evaluations of the injury were encouraging and that Rodgers is "doing fine."

Status: Limited participant Thursday

C.J. Mosley, LB, toe

Five-time Pro Bowl linebacker C.J. Mosley was inactive with a sprained right big toe in Week 5. He has missed the last three games.

Mosley was a limited participant in practice leading up to the game against the Vikings and made the trip to London with the Jets.

Status: Limited participant Thursday

Morgan Moses, OT, knee

Starting right tackle Morgan Moses has not played since an MCL sprain and bone bruise in Week 3. He avoided a season-ending injury and was expected to miss two to four weeks.

“Morgan’s gonna be a couple games, but obviously not enough to put him on IR,” then-Jets coach Saleh said last month. “He’s just dealing with a knee.”

Status: Limited participant Thursday

Michael Carter II, CB, back

Starting nickel corner Michael Carter II suffered a hamstring injury in pregame warmups in Week 5. He played one snap of the game, was listed as doubtful to return and did not play again.

"Michael's going to get evaluated. I'll have something more for you guys on Thursday," ex-Jets coach Robert Saleh said Monday. Saleh never made it to Thursday. He was fired on Tuesday.

Status: Did not practice Thursday

Sauce Gardner, CB, head

Sauce Gardner crashed into linebacker Quincy Williams with 10:36 remaining in the third quarter against the Vikings. He was helped to the sideline by trainers, before going into the medical tent and locker room to be evaluated for a head injury. He returned to the game in the fourth quarter.

Status: Not on injury report

Leki Fotu, DT, hamstring

Leki Fotu has opened the season on injured reserve and has not played in 2024. The Jets opened his practice window on Oct. 2 and Fotu practiced Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Status: Full participant Thursday