NFL Week 5 Injury Report: Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots
It’s Sunday night in Orchard Park, and the stage couldn’t be set any bigger: Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots, primetime lights, and 70,000 fans turning Highmark Stadium into a white out for the team’s first-ever “Rivalries” uniform game. The hype isn’t just about the jerseys, though, as this is a rivalry game dripping with storylines, bad blood, and a whole lot of drama.
The Bills enter 4-0, white hot behind reigning MVP Josh Allen who is better known in pop culture as the quarterback who doubles as Hailee Steinfeld’s other half. Across the field? The Patriots, sitting at 2-2, rolling out rising superstar QB Drake Maye and one of the most polarizing figures in Buffalo history: Stefon Diggs. That’s right, Diggs is back in Buffalo, only this time wearing enemy colors. If that wasn’t enough fuel for the fire, his high-profile relationship with Cardi B (and the fallout with Offset) has turned this matchup into more than just football. This one feels personal, and the tension is going to be off the charts.
But as juicy as the storylines are, the injuries are piling up just as fast. Buffalo has four key starters listed as QUESTIONABLE — OT Spencer Brown, DT Ed Oliver, LB Matt Milano, and DT TJ Sanders. Already OUT are LB Dorian Williams and CB Dorian Strong, with even more depth stripped away thanks to a crowded IR that features DT DeWayne Carter, CB Maxwell Hairston, K Tyler Bass, and OL Tylan Grable. That’s a lot of missing muscle in the trenches and special teams.
The Patriots, meanwhile, haven’t ruled anyone out yet, but their injury list is no less concerning. Linebackers K’Lavon Chaisson and Jahlani Tavai, CB Carlton Davis III, and DT Milton Williams are all QUESTIONABLE, all potential blows to both their front seven and secondary if those names don’t suit up.
Bottom line: the Bills-Patriots rivalry is always must-watch, but between Diggs’ return, a national spotlight, and injury uncertainty on both sides, this one feels like a primetime powder keg waiting to blow.
QUESTIONABLE
DT Ed Oliver
This one continues to be one of the strangest sagas on the Buffalo Bills injury report. Three weeks ago, Ed Oliver looked perfectly fine, even holding a full press conference without a hint of trouble. Then, seemingly overnight, he appeared at the facility in a walking boot on his left ankle. Sean McDermott brushed it off as Oliver getting “stepped on” during practice, but the timeline has never quite lined up. ESPN’s Adam Schefter previously reported it as a “multi-week injury,” and all signs have pointed toward a high ankle sprain — an injury that typically lingers four to six weeks (BJSM, 2020).
Oliver has missed three straight games and sat out eight practices in a row before finally returning to the field this week in a limited capacity. The return should be good news, but the eye test tells a different story. On Wednesday, WGR’s Sal Capaccio captured video of Oliver noticeably struggling with lateral movement. Also, in a clip that later deleted, Oliver was heard saying “That [expletive] hurt like a mother[expletive]”.
Here’s where it gets tricky. With rookie DT TJ Sanders newly added to the Bills injury report and trending in the wrong direction, Buffalo may not have the luxury of keeping Oliver on the sideline much longer. Even at less than 100 percent, the Bills could be forced to lean on their star defensive tackle to anchor the middle against the Patriots’ run game.
Bottom line: Ed Oliver is still very much questionable for Sunday Night Football, and while his presence would be huge, it looks more and more like he’d be gutting it out rather than playing at full strength. If he can’t go, or if he’s severely limited, Buffalo’s defensive line depth takes another serious hit in what’s already shaping up to be a thin week up front.
LB Matt Milano
Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano is back in the spotlight, and not just because he’s one of the most photogenic players in the NFL (yes, Bills Mafia, the thighs are still elite). After missing the past two games with a right pectoral injury, Milano returned to practice this week in a limited fashion, and the early signs point to him suiting up for Sunday Night Football against the New England Patriots.
Milano originally went down in Week 2 against the Jets after a freak fall where he tripped, braced himself with his arms, and tweaked his pec in the process. The Bills immediately played it safe, keeping him out of two straight games. According to a 2021 NFL study, about 45% of pec strains don’t require surgery, and the average return-to-play timeline hovers around 47 days. But not all pec injuries are created equal: recovery can swing dramatically depending on whether it’s a Grade 1 or Grade 2 strain.
Bills fans know the history here, Milano dealt with a pec issue back in 2020 that sidelined him for two games before ultimately landing on injured reserve. That memory alone gave Buffalo reason to be cautious this time around. But unlike then, all indications now are that Milano is trending in the right direction, and his presence would be massive against a Patriots team that loves to test the middle of the field with QB Drake Maye.
Bottom line: while he’s officially listed as questionable, this feels more like the Bills holding their cards close to the chest. Milano looks ready to return, and if he’s out there flying around in Orchard Park under the lights, expect a few more reasons for fans to rave about those legendary thighs.
OL Spencer Brown
The Buffalo Bills offensive line could be getting a major boost this week, as right tackle Spencer Brown appears ready to return after missing last Sunday’s game. Brown was a limited participant in practice all week, and while the team has been cautious in its messaging, the expectation is that he’ll suit up under the lights against the New England Patriots.
This situation has been a bit of a rollercoaster. Last week, Brown himself suggested he would be “good to go” after initially downplaying the calf issue that landed him on the Buffalo Bills injury report. He told One Bills Live that his calf just “got a little weird” during the previous game, and that he felt confident about his availability. But despite his optimism, Brown ultimately sat out.
The bigger question here is whether the calf injury is an isolated issue or part of a larger pattern. Brown has already dealt with a laundry list of durability concerns: he missed the start of training camp with a back injury, fought through reported cramping in Week 1, and now has this calf problem. It’s not outrageous to wonder if the calf flare-up is related to his chronic back troubles.
Regardless of the root cause, this week’s return to limited practice every day suggests progress, and with the Bills shorthanded up front due to other injuries, Brown’s presence would be huge. Keeping Josh Allen upright and protected against a disruptive Patriots front seven is priority number one, and Brown’s return should stabilize the right side of the offensive line.
Bottom line: Spencer Brown is officially questionable, but all signs point to him rolling on Sunday night. If the Bills are serious about keeping their undefeated streak alive in this rivalry clash, having their massive right tackle back on the field will go a long way.
DT TJ Sanders
Buffalo Bills rookie defensive tackle TJ Sanders was a late addition to the Week 5 injury report, and the timing could not be worse. Sanders was not listed at all on Wednesday, but popped up Thursday as a limited participant with a knee injury. Head coach Sean McDermott noted that Sanders has “been dealing with it for a while,” and that it simply flared up this week.
On paper, a limited designation for back-to-back days doesn’t always set off alarms. But the video from Friday’s stretching period tells a different story. Sanders looked uncomfortable, and by the eye test alone, he doesn’t appear close to game-ready. While the team hasn’t ruled him out officially, the expectation is that Sanders will not play against the New England Patriots on Sunday night.
That absence creates a serious domino effect for Buffalo’s defensive line. With Sanders likely out and Ed Oliver still working his way back from an ankle injury, the Bills may be forced to rush Oliver back earlier than they’d like. Losing two interior defenders at once severely limits Buffalo’s rotation.
Bottom line: TJ Sanders’ knee injury is trending in the wrong direction, and Bills Mafia should brace for him to be inactive in Week 5. That puts even more pressure on Ed Oliver to tough it out, whether or not he’s truly ready, a storyline that could define the trenches in this primetime rivalry clash.
OUT
LB Dorian Williams
The Buffalo Bills will officially be without linebacker Dorian Williams for Sunday Night Football against the New England Patriots. Williams went down with what head coach Sean McDermott described as a “bump” during last week’s win over the New Orleans Saints, but the details suggest something more significant. Williams was spotted wearing a bulky brace on his left knee during the Saints game, fueling speculation of preexisting knee injury that has now sidelined him completely.
The third-year linebacker did not practice at all this week (DNP Wednesday through Friday) and was quickly ruled OUT for Week 5. His absence has already opened the door for veteran LB Shaq Thompson to see more snaps alongside Terrel Bernard, and with the expected addition of Matt Milano this week, they should provide the Bills with a steadiness in the middle of the defense.
CB Dorian Strong
The Buffalo Bills will also be without rookie cornerback Dorian Strong in Week 5, another surprise addition to the team’s injury report. Strong was not listed at all on Wednesday, but suddenly popped up as a DNP on both Thursday and Friday before being ruled OUT for Sunday Night Football. The official designation is a neck injury, though details remain scarce.
Head coach Sean McDermott noted that Strong’s injury was, “…something he dealt with a little in the game against the Saints”, suggesting the issue dates back to last week. While the Bills haven’t gone into specifics, any time the word neck is attached to a player’s status, it raises concerns about caution and long-term protection. Buffalo wasted no time shutting Strong down for the Patriots game.
For the Bills, the timing isn’t ideal. The rookie had been showing flashes of promise in limited reps, and with depth already tested in the secondary, losing Strong trims down the rotation even further. Against a Patriots offense that will try to exploit mismatches with Cardi B’s baby daddy, Buffalo’s cornerbacks will have to play extended snaps.
Also Listed (Active)
TE Jackson Hawes
Rookie tight end Jackson Hawes made a brief appearance on the Buffalo Bills injury report this week with an ankle issue, but it doesn’t appear to be anything serious. Hawes was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday before logging a full participation on Friday, a cementing the fact he will be available for Sunday night’s showdown against the New England Patriots.
No details have been provided on the exact nature of the injury, but all indications point to it being minor. That’s welcome news for Buffalo, because Hawes has quietly become one of the biggest storylines in the Bills’ offense. After starting the season with a modest role, his snap counts have exploded since Week 2. In fact, he led all Buffalo tight ends in Week 4 with a 53% snap share, proving himself as a blocking force and carving out a reputation as a physical, tough-nosed rookie.
Players on Injured Reserve
The Bills did not activate any eligible players from injured reserve this week. While the team remains tight-lipped on the expected return for kicker Tyler Bass and offensive lineman Tylan Grable, there are encouraging signs regarding cornerback Maxwell Hairston. Hairston was spotted in a slimmer knee brace during practice this week and has been gradually ramping up on-field drills, suggesting he may be inching closer to a return. For now, though, all three remain on IR, limiting Buffalo’s depth heading into the primetime clash against the New England Patriots.
Returning from Suspension
Defensive end Michael Hoecht and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi have now been permitted back in the facility for limited activities. However, both remain ineligible to play until Week 8 as they complete their six-week suspensions.
