As the Buffalo Bills (6-3) prepare for Sunday’s tilt in South Beach vs. the Miami Dolphins (2-7), the team only had one player miss Friday’s practice session, but it involves a crucial member of the defense: talented pass rusher and defensive end Jerry Hughes.
Hughes, who first appeared on the injury report on Thursday, is dealing with a groin injury. The issue was bad enough to make Hughes a limited participant during Thursday’s session, and kept him out of Friday’s session.
The team has listed Hughes as questionable for Sunday, and if Hughes isn’t able to go, it would be a major blow to Leslie Frazier’s 4-3 defense.
Hughes, who has amassed 2.5 sacks with 19 tackles (11 solo) with one fumble recovery in nine games this year, has not missed a game since 2011, a stretch of 124 consecutive games.
Facing a mobile and elusive quarterback in former Bill Ryan Fitzpatrick, Hughes’s absence would be huge. If Hughes isn’t able to go, Shaq Lawson would be in line for more repetitions at defensive end opposite Trent Murphy.
Besides Hughes, there were no other players on Buffalo’s injury list Friday. Rookie tight end Dawson Knox, who sat out Thursday’s practice with a knee injury, was back on the field as a full participant.