Bills vs. Eagles: Midweek Injury Trends

The Buffalo Bills ’ mid-week injury report looks much more favorable than last Sunday afternoon’s game would have led anyone to believe with just one non-participant in their Thanksgiving Day practice.

Thursday injury report pic.twitter.com/vh3xLLFmTj

— Buffalo Bills PR November 23, 2023 Here’s a look at how today’s report could affect Sunday’s roster.

Bills players trending up QB Josh Allen (shoulder) WR Trent Sherfield (ankle) LB Dorian Williams (knee) S Micah Hyde (neck/stinger) DB Cam Lewis (shoulder) The first three players listed above have been full participants in both practices this week and are likely only on this list because they’re still receiving some type of treatment for injuries that are nagging them as we are mid-way through the third quarter of the 2023 season. I have Micah Hyde and Cam Lewis up here as well even though they have both been limited in practice this week. This is the same way they prepared for last week’s game, yet they were both active — and played significant portions (81% and 60% percent respectively) of the defense’s snap counts. There’s no reason to think anything has changed — if it had, they probably would have not practiced at all at least one day this week.

Bills players holding steady NCB Taron Johnson (concussion) S Taylor Rapp (neck) The fact that either of these two, and especially both, are practicing at all is not something many would have predicted at halftime of last Sunday’s game. Rapp was taken from the field via ambulance and Johnson needed a lot of help finding the sideline. But Rapp never made it past the team’s training room and Johnson ended up jogging into the locker room followed by members of the Buffalo training staff. And now, here we are, watching the pair both participate — albeit in a limited fashion, four days later. Johnson would still need to clear the league’s concussion protocol before he could be activated, but he’s done it a week before, and we saw linebacker Terrel Bernard do it just a week ago. While it’s still too early to tell, I wouldn’t bet against these two being in uniform Sunday when the Bills try to hand the Philadelphia Eagles their second loss of the year.

Bills players trending down CB Dane Jackson (concussion) Jackson left Sunday’s 32-6 win over the New York Jets just a few game-minutes before Jackson and Rapp. However, he hasn’t made it back to practice yet and it’s highly likely that he will be ruled out for Sunday. It looks like he is still a step — or several — behind Johnson on the league’s concussion protocol flow-chart.

As for Sunday’s host, the Eagles, they are banged up a bit themselves.

Eagles players trending down DE Derek Barnett (personal) TE Grant Calcaterra (ankle) S Justin Evans (knee) TE Dallas Goedert (forearm) DT Milton Williams (concussion) Of this group, only Goedert is first on the Eagles’ depth chart with Evans actually still being on the team’s Injured Reserve list. Williams has had plenty of playing time this season despite being second on Philadelphia’s depth chart and has recorded 10 solo tackles (25 combined) and half a sack. Barnett, who has played less than 25 percent of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps this season, missed Monday night’s game in Kansas City after being a healthy scratch in Week 10. It would seem that he most likely won’t play against the Bills on Sunday either.

Eagles players holding steady WR A.J. Brown (thigh) RB D’Andre Swift (ankle) WR Quez Watkins (hamstring) Watkins, despite practicing with the team, hasn’t been activated from the team’s injured reserve list just yet and it’s unsure that the Eagles see a need to do so before Sunday. However, Brown and Swift will likely suit up and take their places as two of Jalen Hurts’ favorite weapons. Brown has 1013 yards and 6 touchdowns on 68 receptions this season while Swift has 690 yards and 4 touchdowns on 147 carries. I would guess that the pair will be looking to add to those numbers this week.

Eagles players trending up WR Julio Jones (knee) Jones was the only Eagle on this week’s injury list to record a full practice this week, but he has only played in four games this year with just 4 receptions for 16 yards and 1 touchdown. I would say he will be available for his fifth game of the season, but how much of a factor the 13-year veteran will be in the outcome of the game is questionable.

It will be interesting to see if anyone — on either team — is ruled out on Friday and if any of Buffalo’s defensive backs can clear concussion protocol before Sunday.