Injuries force Bills to change plans: No starters to play in preseason finale

Injuries often force the hand of a team. One player out, another player in.

In the case of the Buffalo Bills during the 2024 NFL preseason, that has been taken to a whole new level.

Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott fielded multiple injury-related questions on Monday via video conference. Prior to his team’s 9-3 preseason win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bills already had a laundry list of players hurt.

It has since grown.

The likes of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (knee), receiver Curtis Samuel (toe), and wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling (neck) are considered week-to-week. Defensively, safety Damar Hamlin (hamstring) is out as well.

Heading into the preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, McDermott had planned to play starters.

The injury situation gotten so dire he’s decided against that.

“Initially the plan was to play the ones this week. Because of the injuries, the lack of availability, we’re going to take the ones out,” McDermott said.

The Bills are going to play it safe. Smartly so. But at this rate, it’s almost the only choice they had.

McDermott’s full thoughts on not playing starters against the Panthers can be found below: