NFL Injury Report Week 1: Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens
It’s the heavyweight showdown NFL fans have been drooling over, a battle between the last two MVPs, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. This is a Week 1 clash that’s built like a playoff preview. With a matchup full of thick thighs and egos, this Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens showdown is more than just a game, it’s a full-on power struggle. Josh Allen, Western New York’s weapon of mass seduction and possible future father to Hailee Steinfeld’s child, brings a rocket arm and an eye for the end zone. But before Bills Mafia starts prepping for parade season and baby announcements, there’s one problem: the NFL injury report is hitting harder than a Matt Milano blitz — and worse yet, the Bills are battling what can only be described as a full-blown groin epidemic, with four players limping through soft-tissue setbacks before the season even kicks off.
The latest Buffalo Bills injury update is a painful one: kicker Tyler Bass has been placed on injured reserve (IR), leaving Buffalo scrambling for stability in the kicking game. In a matchup that could come down to field position and clutch points, relying on the leg of 41-year-old Matt Prater might leave us living on a prayer. Cornerback Tre’Davious White is also listed as doubtful, creating a massive vulnerability as the Bills prepare to face one of the league’s most electric dual-threat QBs. Don’t forget the Buffalo Bills’ IR list already includes their first-round pick, cornerback Maxwell Hairston, leaving a serious depletion of talent in the secondary.
The Baltimore Ravens injury report isn’t much prettier. Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard and tight end Isaiah Likely are officially ruled out, shrinking Lamar Jackson’s toolbox in a game where every weapon matters. Their absence could affect both the Ravens’ run game and their play-action versatility. Add that to Baltimore’s current IR list that is headlined by safety Ar’Darius Washington, and the return of the always ailing cornerback Jaire Alexander, the Ravens have enough injuries to create disruption as well.
Players on Injured Reserve
K Tyler Bass; The loss of kicker Tyler Bass is more than a footnote. Placed on the IR just days before the Bills’ Week 1 showdown with the Ravens, Bass’s absence removes a powerful leg from the special team’s unit. The injury began at the end of July, which led to Bass being shut down for a month due to pelvic soreness.
After returning to kick in the last preseason game, Bass digressed from limited to no practice, and now has been placed on the IR. The injury report eventually designated Bass as having a ‘left hip/groin’ which should lean one to believe he is dealing with Athletic Pubalgia (sports hernia). It is possible to play through with pain management, but it appears too much for Bass at this time and in my opinion will need an operation to correct. The surgical outcomes are good, with a return to play as early as 6-8 weeks (AAOS, 2021). However, due to the delicacy of kicking, a surgical correction could take at least 12 weeks.
CB Maxwell Hairston; The rookie corner out of Kentucky, was placed on IR before he could even flash his talent in a regular-season snap. While he wasn’t guaranteed to start, Hairston brought speed, ball skills, and intriguing upside to a secondary. He was injured on July 29th with a non-contact LCL knee sprain.
Most LCL sprain return in about 6-8 weeks, so returning by the regular season was always a stretch (NCBI.) Placing on the IR was always the right choice, which allows Hairston to get, at minimum, 10 weeks of recovery.
OL Tylan Grable; Second year offensive lineman Tylan Grable also landed on injured reserve before making his season debut. A developmental tackle with raw athleticism, Grable was viewed as a long-term project rather than an immediate contributor, but his placement on IR still impacts Buffalo’s depth in the trenches. He currently resides on the IR due to a ‘concussion’ since August 6th. This will allow him to have at least 8 weeks of recovery.
Doubtful
CB Tre’Davious White; Officially listed as doubtful for Week 1 due to a groin injury, Tre’ White has been shut down since August 21st.
Originally reported as a “lower leg issue”, by Beane and McDermott, the injury was later clarified as a groin strain. Due to White reportedly pulling up lame during practice — he liekly suffered an acute muscular strain. He hasn’t practiced since and based on the typical recovery timeline for such injuries (2–4 weeks for moderate strains, or 6 for more severe cases), his availability for this Ravens matchup is all but ruled out. Don’t be surprised if we see Tre’ miss at least another game.
Also Listed (ACTIVE)
WR Keon Coleman; Breakout candidate Keon Coleman unexpectedly popped up on the injury report this week with a groin issue. Reports suggest this groin problem has been lingering since training camp, hinting at a potential chronic soft-tissue issue.
Although he was limited in practice early in the week, Coleman has since been cleared to play, but the concern for aggravation is very real. The Bills will likely keep a close eye on his snap count.
WR Khalil Shakir; He is set to suit up for Week 1, but don’t let the green light fool you. Shakir is still navigating the final stages of recovery from a high ankle sprain suffered back on August 1st during the Bills’ Return of the Blue and Red practice.
The standard recovery timeline for high ankle sprains is 4–6 weeks (BJSM, 2020), and while he’s now in week five, and was a full participant in practice all week, there is still some risk of reinjury. It’s worth noting that Shakir dealt with the same injury last season, missing two games and taking closer to four weeks to fully regain his production.
CB Christian Benford; The undisputed CB1 of the Buffalo Bills will suit up for Week 1, but there’s a lot more to this story than just a clean injury designation. Like Tre’Davious White, Benford first surfaced on the injury radar back on August 21st — the day the Bills’ secondary apparently made a collective deal with the devil.
Initial reports suggested Benford simply needed rest, then shifted to a vague “lower leg” issue, before the official injury report confirmed it was a groin strain.
Whether this was a chronic issue, à la Keon Coleman, or a sudden, acute strain like White’s isn’t clear, but either scenario carries risk. The good news: Benford ramped up from limited participation early in the week to back-to-back full practices, suggesting he’s trending in the right direction.
Practice Squad Elevations
The Buffalo Bills announced two practice squad elevations ahead of their Week 1 showdown with the Baltimore Ravens. Veteran kicker Matt Prater, 41, joins the active roster as he looks to rebound from a meniscus injury that sidelined him for nearly all of the 2024 season. Prater’s experience provides stability while Tyler Bass recovers on injured reserve. On the offensive line, Kendrick Green has been called up to ease the workload of rookie center Sedrick Van Pran Granger, who only returned to practice this week after missing the entire training camp.
Feature Image Credit: Buffalo Bills place kicker Tyler Bass. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
This is so gooood. Where’s your thigh dance big boi?
great work. here’s hoping tre bounces back faster than bass
Each phrase carries weight without heaviness. There is a gentle gravitas, a sense that every word contributes to a larger, thoughtful pattern.