Bills Inactive Report: Buffalo suffers devastating blow just moments before kickoff against the New England Patriots
With kickoff just moments away, the update couldn’t have come at a worse time.
The Buffalo Bills were looking relatively healthy heading into the Week 15 contest against the New England Patriots, until they weren’t.
Late in the week, cornerback Christian Benford could be seen leaving practice in a walking boot, stoking fears that he wouldn’t play against New England.
Head coach Sean McDermott clarified that it happened at practice, and that the team would wait to see more information before declaring him out for the matchup. Of course, it was always “next-man-up” for McDermott if Benford couldn’t participate.
According to the official inactive report, Buffalo will be without one of its primary defenders in the matchup, leaving the team significantly short-handed in the defensive backfield. Benford is officially out, as the fears of the Bills Mafia have been realized ahead of kickoff.
Buffalo made a slew of roster moves Saturday
The team elevated cornerback Dane Jackson, an indication that Benford wouldn’t play on Sunday.
That, and the team just needs bodies at the position. After cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram was picked up by the Houston Texans, and Darius Slay refused to report, Buffalo is down bodies in the secondary.
In a subsequent move, the team also elevated defensive end Andre Jones Jr. from the practice squad, perhaps a chance to stop playing rookie T.J. Sanders at the position and allow him to transition back to defensive tackle. With injuries, Sanders has had to play out of position for a few weeks now.
Buffalo Bills inactive report for Week 15
Outside of Benford, and as we reported all week, the biggest name we were watching out for was that of defensive end Joey Bosa. He’s been elite on the defensive front, leading the team in forced fumbles and being a one-man wrecking crew since being signed by Buffalo.
Fortunately, he’ll be back with the team in full strength, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Leading up to the matchup, McDermott said that linebacker Terrel Bernard and wide receiver Josh Palmer would be questionable. Bernard has been ruled out as inactive, but fortunately, he has a solid replacement in linebacker Shaq Thompson. As for Palmer, he’s a full go for the contest, giving quarterback Josh Allen another weapon in a pivotal game.
The official inactive list for Buffalo includes wide receiver Gabe Davis, offensive tackle Tylan Grable, offensive tackle Chase Lundt, defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis, Bernard, safety Darnell Savage, and Benford.
Davis is another surprise addition, having played well with Allen and built that chemistry. A head-scratching move from the organization ahead of kickoff.
Benford’s absence is a significant blow, but with Bosa back and the stakes as high as ever, Buffalo will have to weather the storm and find answers quickly on Sunday.
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A huge congratulations goes out to the happy couple.
