Buffalo Bills at Minnesota Vikings inactives: LeSean McCoy out

The Buffalo Bills have a tall task today—they traveled to Minneapolis to play the Minnesota Vikings (not to be mistaken with Wisconsin, where they’ll play the Green Bay Packers next week), and now they’ll have to play the game without their best offensive player.

LeSean McCoy has been ruled out for today’s contest due to a rib injury he suffered in last week’s 31-20 defeat against the Los Angeles Chargers. McCoy suffered cracked rib cartilage when center Ryan Groy fell on him at the end of a play. Ian Rapoport first reported this morning that the Bills were likely to be without McCoy.

While Shady’s absence is the main story, he isn’t the only player missing this weekend due to injury. Here is Buffalo’s full list of inactive players.

RB LeSean McCoy

In Shady’s absence, the Bills figure to feature plenty of Marcus Murphy, with a healthy dose of Chris Ivory to go with him. Ivory scored Buffalo’s only rushing touchdown of the season last week, a one-yard plunge that brought the Bills within 15 points of the Chargers. Both players have flashed so far in the season, but this will be the first time that they’ll be asked to do so without the Bills’ lead back.

DE Shaq Lawson

Buffalo’s 2016 first-round draft pick will miss his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury. He was injured during Buffalo’s 47-3 blowout loss at the Baltimore Ravens during the season-opener. While he is not a starter, he was expected to be an important rotational piece along the defensive line backing up Trent Murphy and Jerry Hughes. Eddie Yarbrough remains the top reserve defensive end, with Nate Orchard active as the fourth defensive end.

OT Ike Boettger

OT Conor McDermott

The Bills continue to roll with three offensive tackles on game day, leaving starters Dion Dawkins and Jordan Mills backed up by veteran Marshall Newhouse.

G Wyatt Teller

The Bills’ fifth-round pick has been a healthy scratch all year. John Miller and Vladimir Ducasse remain the starting guards.

TE Logan Thomas

The Bills continue to deploy three tight ends, but this time it’s Thomas out instead of Khari Lee. Thomas is the inferior blocker of the two, which could be a reason for Lee’s elevation this week. Charles Clay and Jason Croom are the other two tight ends.

CB Phillip Gaines

The Bills are down two starters at outside corner as Gaines is inactive and Vontae Davis retired. The Bills will presumably go with Lafayette Pitts outside and Taron Johnson in the slot. Ryan Lewis, elevated from the practice squad this week, is the other active corner.

As for the Vikings, they are without two starters: running back Dalvin Cook (hamstring) and defensive end Everson Griffen (knee) have been ruled out for today’s contest. Also ruled out are tight end David Morgan (knee) and cornerback Marcus Sherels (ribs). Here are all of the Vikings’ inactives: