Buffalo Bills inactives, Week 16: no E.J. Gaines against Patriots

The Buffalo Bills take on the New England Patriots today in a crucial matchup. For the Bills, a win would go a long way towards solidifying their playoff chances, although a loss does not end those hopes. For the Patriots, a win would potentially allow them to clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Who’s active and who’s inactive for today’s contest?

WR Andre Holmes

The Bills’ special teams contributor and leader in receiving touchdowns was ruled out on Friday with a neck injury.

WR Brandon Reilly

Perhaps surprisingly, the Bills will only go with four wide receivers today, choosing to leave Reilly inactive even though Holmes is out and Kelvin Benjamin is dealing with a knee injury. This decision leaves the team incredibly thin at the receiver position.

TE Logan Thomas

The Bills go with Khari Lee, who is the superior blocker, instead of the hyper-athletic but extremely raw Thomas. With Nathan Peterman out of concussion protocol, Thomas isn’t necessary as an emergency quarterback, either.

CB E.J. Gaines

This one hurts. The Bills will presumably use Shareece Wright and Lafayette Pitts on the outside to replace Gaines, who has been a tremendous addition to the defense when healthy.

CB Breon Borders

The Bills will go short on cornerbacks, as well, with the recently-acquired Borders a healthy scratch. The team only has four active corners, although both Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde can play there in a pinch (and Hyde can hold down the slot quite admirably, as well).

T Conor McDermott

Nothing to see here; McDermott has been a healthy scratch for the majority of his time with the Bills this season.

G John Miller

Also not a surprise, seeing as the former third round draft pick hasn’t been active since losing his starting job after the fourth game of the season.

The Patriots’ list of inactive players includes five major contributors:

Receiver Chris Hogan won’t get to play against his former team but another former Bill, Mike Gillislee, is active in place of running backs James White and Rex Burkhead.