When the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens square off today in their 2018 NFL season opener, they will do so with only two players missing the game due to injury. With NFL rules being what they are, however, five other players join injured wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III and injured linebacker Julian Stanford on the inactive list for today’s contest. Also included on the list is one very surprising name.
Here are the Bills’ inactives for this week.
WR Ray-Ray McCloud III
The rookie receiver/return man will miss the contest due to a knee injury he suffered late in the preseason. The Bills still have five active receivers for the game: Kelvin Benjamin, Zay Jones, Jeremy Kerley, Cam Phillips, and Robert Foster.
CB Vontae Davis
Whoa. The presumed starter at corner opposite Tre’Davious White is a healthy scratch for his first game as a Bill. Phillip Gaines will start outside, leaving rookie Taron Johnson to man the slot.
CB Ryan Lewis
Lewis was added to the roster after cut-downs, having spent the preseason with the New England Patriots. He’ll wait at least a week to suit up in Buffalo.
LB Julian Stanford
The veteran linebacker was questionable for this one with a nose injury, and he will be unable to go as a result. The Bills have five active linebackers: Matt Milano, Lorenzo Alexander, Tremaine Edmunds, Deon Lacey, and Ramon Humber
T Conor McDermott
McDermott was inactive for the majority of the 2017 season with the Bills, and he will begin 2018 in the same fashion.
G Wyatt Teller
The Bills are comfortable with Russell Bodine and Marshall Newhouse serving as the only backup linemen for the day. Newhouse was cross-trained at both guard and tackle this summer, presumably for this very reason.
TE Khari Lee
The Bills roll with three tight ends, including Jason Croom, who will appear in his first professional game. Backup tight end Logan Thomas is also the emergency quarterback, which may have given him the edge on Lee.
Today’s Bills inactives. #BUFvsBAL
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) September 9, 2018
Details: https://t.co/JkVPqKpCXt pic.twitter.com/l7tfZqxnbP
Here are Baltimore’s inactives:
Today's inactives vs. the @buffalobills. pic.twitter.com/cb5v8HUvPr
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 9, 2018