Bills’ chances to win ‘easy’ game take a hit right before kickoff with game day inactives report
Not the best update coming out of One Bills Drive ahead of kickoff.
The Buffalo Bills were already heading into the matchup against the Miami Dolphins a little banged up. Head coach Sean McDermott spoke to WGR 550AM on Friday and ruled out defensive end A.J. Epenesa and linebacker Shaq Thompson, a brutal blow to the defense.
With kickoff nearly underway, the team announced its inactive report, with the fan base eagerly awaiting updates on cornerback Christian Benford and Taron Johnson, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, and wide receiver Josh Palmer, who were all questionable for the game.
Palmer, Johnson, cornerback Brandon Codrington, Benford, and offensive tackle Chase Lundt round out the inactives to go along with Epenesa and Thompson, who had already been ruled out.
Inactive report doesn’t spell good news for Buffalo
The next-man-up type mentality will be in full swing against the Dolphins, with rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston expected to get a bulk of the reps alongside cornerback Tre’Davious White, with Benford unable to participate.
What’s more, the team will lean on defensive tackle and rookie standout Deone Walker, paired with a heavy defensive front rotation, to make life miserable for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Fortunately, the Bills did get back Jones just in time for kickoff. He’s officially active after missing the last three games due to a calf injury.
Ahead of the game, Buffalo had elevated cornerback Dane Jackson and linebacker Baylon Spector from the practice squad, which was a sign that some players might not be able to suit up.
Josh Allen has an elite history against the Dolphins
The Bills’ offense is once again going to be a little shorthanded with Palmer being inactive once again. He was one of the biggest offseason acquisitions and was hurt during a hip-drop tackle that was never called in the loss against the Atlanta Falcons.
Despite Palmer being out, quarterback Josh Allen has always risen to the occasion when taking on the divisional foe. In 15 games, Allen and the Bills have averaged 32.5 points per game, which is the fifth-highest team mark by a starting quarterback against a single opponent since 1966, according to the Buffalo Bills.
The dual-threat quarterback can do plenty of damage with his legs, as the Dolphins have allowed the second-most rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks in the NFL.
With a victory, the Bills can tie the all-time series with the Dolphins for the first time in over 50 years. The Dolphins are leading the series 62-61-1.
Miami Dolphins inactives
The Dolphins are also dealing with injuries that will impact the contest, per the inactive report. Safety Ashtyn Davis, cornerback Rasul Douglas, linebackers Chop Robinson and Andre Carter II, wide receiver Dee Eskridge, and tight end Julian Hill were all ruled out.
It’s not the cleanest injury report for Buffalo, but the Bills have shown time and again that they don’t fold under pressure. If Allen keeps his dominance over Miami going, the injuries won’t matter much when the scoreboard hits zero.
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