NFL Injury Report Week 2: Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets
It’s Week 2 at the Meadowlands, and while Buffalo is riding high at 1-0, they’ll now have to step foot in the swamplands of New Jersey. A place where football dreams go to die and the air smells like garbage. The Bills square off with the 0-1 New York Jets in a divisional showdown that has all the makings of chaos. Josh Allen, fresh off an MVP-caliber opener that reminded the world why he owns the trophy, is looking laser-focused this year. Let’s just say he’ll be keeping his attention on football and not NYC bartenders. Allen has Buffalo’s title hopes squarely on his shoulders.
But as always in Buffalo, injuries are already stealing the spotlight. The biggest gut punch is Ed Oliver, ruled OUT after a dominant Week 1. Officially, the story is he got stepped on at practice Wednesday… but considering Ed’s well-known love of horses, you have to wonder if this wasn’t some cowboy mishap gone wrong. Either way, losing him leaves a crater in the Bills’ defensive front. On top of that, Tre’Davious White, Taron Johnson, Shaq Thompson, and rookie Jordan Hancock are all questionable, leaving the secondary and linebacker group wobbling before they even buckle their chinstraps.
Meanwhile, the Jets aren’t exactly strutting into this one healthy either. They’ll be without wideout Josh Reynolds and defensive lineman Jay Tufele, thinning out both ends of the roster. Cornerback Michael Carter II and tight end Mason Taylor are listed as questionable, and for a team already searching for an identity, those question marks could make things even bleaker. Also notable is offensive guard, Alijah Vera-Tucker, is on the IR list.
OUT
DT Ed Oliver; This one’s a head-scratcher. Oliver held a full press conference Wednesday after practice looking perfectly fine, then somehow rolled into the facility Thursday morning with a walking boot on his left ankle. Sean McDermott chalked it up to getting “stepped on” during practice, but the details don’t quite add up.
Adam Schefter is already reporting it’s a multi-week injury, and considering the boot plus this timeline, the most logical diagnosis is a high ankle sprain. Those usually linger 4–6 weeks (BJSM, 2020), so even if the Bills keep him off IR, don’t be surprised if he’s sidelined until at least Week 5 against New England.
The boot all but rules out a minor low sprain, so Buffalo’s defensive line will have to weather life without its interior wrecking ball for a while.
QUESTIONABLE
CB Tre’Davious White; After missing Week 1 due to a groin injury, Tre’ White was able to return to practice for the first time since August 21st. However, he only participated in practice all week on a limited basis and wasn’t able to ramp up to full reps. With a short week leading into Thursday night’s matchup against the Dolphins, it would be keen of the team to hold him out to ensure he’s fully ready for that game.
This injury originated back when he was hurt in practice. It was 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 likely suffered an acute muscular strain. The typical recovery timeline for such injuries (2–4 weeks for moderate strains, or 6 for more severe cases), leaves him at 3.5 weeks post injury this Sunday.
CB Taron Johnson; Taron Johnson was a surprise to show up on the injury report with a quad issue this week. He wasn’t flagged as injured last week and was last seen on the field at 7:56 in the 4th quarter making a tackle on Zay Flowers. It’s unclear whether he sustained a strain on that final play or was managing a minor contusion throughout the game. At practice, he was a DNP on Wednesday but participated in a limited capacity Thursday and Friday, suggesting the team is managing him carefully. I would lean towards the injury being a contusion and we see him suit up Sunday.
DB Jordan Hancock; Another surprise addition on the injury report on Thursday was Hancock, who was only able to practice in a limited capacity both Thursday and Friday. Interestingly, he had no designation on Wednesday, suggesting a possible new issue. Hancock dealt with a preseason injury, reported as a stinger, though it resembled an AC joint sprain to the ThighDoctor.
He was inactive last week, but not due to injury. While he’s likely healthy enough to play, roster logistics may keep him inactive.
LB Shaq Thompson; Shaq Thompson has been limited in practice all week with a hamstring/hand issue. He experienced similar hamstring problems during camp but was not reported leaving last week’s game. Despite McDermott noting he wasn’t practicing Wednesday, Thompson showed up in full pads albeit only doing sideline drills and logging a DNP. He was able to take limited reps Thursday and Friday though. This appears to be more of a lingering, chronic issue that he can likely manage, making him expected to be active Sunday.
Also Listed (ACTIVE)
RB James Cook; James Cook raised some eyebrows by logging a limited practice on Wednesday with a hamstring concern but returned to full participation the rest of the week. He’s expected to play Sunday, though it’s worth keeping an eye on the RB1 who missed two weeks of camp. After logging 48 snaps (56%) last week, could be a minor conditioning issue rather than a true injury.
CB Christian Benford; The undisputed CB1 of the Buffalo Bills will suited up for Week 1, logging 51 snaps (100%). He missed two weeks of practice after a groin injury occurred on August 21st. He practiced in full for the whole week, so although it is being monitored, Benford is good to go this week.
WR Keon Coleman; Breakout candidate Keon Coleman unexpectedly popped up on the injury report last week with a groin issue. Reports suggest this groin problem has been lingering since training camp, hinting at a potential chronic soft-tissue issue.
Coleman logged a career high snap count in one game (75) last week. He was a full participant all week and will be ready for this week’s game, but will the team manage his reps this week due to the short rest going into Week 3.
CB/KR Brandon Codrington; Codrington tweaked his knee on a tackle last week, finishing the game in a brace. He was listed on this week’s injury report but moved from a limited practice on Wednesday to full participation Thursday and Friday. He will be good to go Sunday.
TE Dawson Knox; Listed with a hip issue this week. This is a designation he has had at several points in his career, which makes it unclear whether it’s a new injury or a lingering concern. He practiced limited Wednesday and Thursday but returned to full participation Friday. Knox is coming off a game where he logged 48 snaps (56%), slightly outpacing fellow TE Dalton Kincaid, who finished with 43 snaps (51%).
DE Greg Rousseau; Groot was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday with a knee issue but returned to full participation Friday. He played his usual 2024 snap-share pace last week, logging 35 snaps (69%). Rousseau was seen wearing a compression sleeve on his right knee in practice this week but nevertheless is expected to go Sunday.
Players on Injured Reserve
K Tyler Bass (Left hip/groin)
CB Maxwell Hairston (Knee)
OT Tylan Grable (Concussion)
DT DeWayne Carter (Achilles)
