Week 1 Injury Report: Buffalo Bills vs. LA Rams

Entering the 2022 season, the hype around the Buffalo Bills is surreal. As the consensus Super Bowl favorites, optimism is at an all-time high. Yet, scar tissue lingers from past failures. Many may wait for the other shoe to drop, but it’s time to ride this wave differently. Take those feelings, and BURN. IT. ALL.

Health has been a major advantage for the Buffalo Bills in the McDermott era. Unfortunately, Tre White is still recovering from an ACL reconstruction and will miss at least the first quarter of the season. Otherwise, the Bills are only dealing with minor ailments and all starters will play.

As for the LA Rams, they enter this matchup with no major concerns either. The only player to note who will miss the game is their WR3 Van Jefferson. Rumors were swirling about a nagging elbow injury for Matt Stafford in the offseason, however, it likely will not have any significant impact on his play.

LISTED

S Jordan Poyer

Poyer sustained a hyperextended ‘elbow’ in practice on August 2^nd. After taking the remainder of camp to rest, he was back at practice all week as a FULL participant. Look for him to be playing with a brace for protection, but otherwise, he will not be playing with any limitations. 

Frazier said Jordan Poyer made a play in practice yesterday, wrapping up a ball carrier, that he highlighted to the rest of the defense to show that he's back and ready.

— Sal Capaccio 🏈 (@SalSports) September 5, 2022

WR Isaiah McKenzie

The “face of the franchise” appears to have suffered a mild strain of his ‘groin’ while practicing on August 27^th. He was at practice all week as a FULL participant, so he appears to have recovered very quickly. Thursday night’s game is less than two weeks from his injury, which can leave him a little vulnerable to re-injury. His usage may be limited.

DT Tim Settle

Settle was first reported with a ‘calf’ injury after the Bills-Colts preseason game. This was likely a mild strain, which can recover in 1-3 weeks. The upcoming game will be just shy of four weeks since his injury. Settle was a FULL participant all week in practice. Calf injuries can re-aggravate easily, worth noting. Settle also has some groin soreness early in camp that limited him.

QUESTIONABLE

OL Tommy Doyle

Doyle sustained a ‘foot’ injury in the Bills-Colts preseason game. The specifics are unclear but, based on the denotation of ‘foot’, the need for him to wear a boot early on, and the timeline he is on (no IR), he likely suffered a grade 2 midfoot sprain. These can take about five weeks to recover from (1). Currently, he is just shy of four weeks since his injury. Doyle did not practice all week but likely will start ramping up next week.

Prediction: OUT

TE Quintin Morris 

Morris has missed practice all week with a ‘hamstring’ injury. This was suffered in practice on August 29^th.

Quintin Morris pulls up lame during practice today.

Training staff eventually starts stretching out his right leg.

Dawson Knox and head coach Sean McDermott both come up to Morris as he's clearly in pain.#Bills pic.twitter.com/brWjAM8qoZ

— Jon Scott (@JonScottTV) August 29, 2022

He will be about three weeks from the time of injury once the Bills-Titans MNF game rolls along. Likely a minor strain, look for him to get acclimated back into practice next week.

Prediction: OUT

Citations

1. Osbahr DC, O’Loughlin PF, Drakos MC, Barnes RP, Kennedy JG, Warren RF. Midfoot sprains in the National Football League. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2014 Dec; 43 (12): 557-61. PMID: 25490010.

Featured Image: Rich Barnes/USA TODAY Sports