The Buffalo Bills (8-6) are preparing to face the AFC East champion New England Patriots (11-3) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Foxboro in a game with huge Wild Card implications for the Bills.
For Wednesday’s practice session, first-year Bills head coach Sean McDermott said the team would be without the services of several key contributors.
Wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (knee) did not practice Wednesday. He played and caught both of his targets for 20 yards during Buffalo’s 24-16 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 15. Benjamin, who did not hurt his knee any further during the win over the Dolphins, “continues to tough it out," according to McDermott.
In other injury news, the following Bills were also held out of practice Wednesday: linebacker Lorenzo Alexander (rest day), cornerback E.J. Gaines (knee), wide receiver Andre Holmes (neck), tight end Nick O'Leary (back), and defensive tackle Kyle Williams (groin) will also miss Wednesday’s practice session.
Tight end Charles Clay (knee), running back LeSean McCoy (knee), guard John Miller (ankle), and wide receiver Deonte Thompson (back) were limited participants. Rookie quarterback Nathan Peterman, recently cleared from the league’s concussion protocol, returned as a full practice participant.
Safety Colt Anderson, who broke his arm in Buffalo’s Week 4 win over the Atlanta Falcons, was activated from the injured reserve list and returned to practice, providing depth on special teams and in the secondary.