The Buffalo Bills have ruled out Josh Norman (hamstring) and Cody Ford (knee) from Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots, after neither player was able to practice this week. It’ll be the second consecutive game for each player to be sidelined—and it’s an especially tough situation for Norman, having had three hamstring flare-ups this year. On the bright side, John Brown (knee) was a full participant in practice this week, and he’s cleared to play this weekend. So is Isaiah McKenzie (ankle), who was a limited participant earlier in the week.
In total, seven players hit the Questionable listing this week, almost all of them starters. On the defensive line, Vernon Butler (groin) doesn’t look promising—he missed the last two practices with his injury. Jerry Hughes (foot) didn’t practice Wednesday, but was a full participant by Friday. Quinton Jefferson, too, missed Thursday’s practice with a knee injury, but participated fully on Friday. Both players are trending toward playing.
Matt Milano (pectoral) did play last week, but only played 19 snaps, and the team is bringing him along slowly. He was a limited participant in practice all week, and the team has him as questionable for this weekend. Micah Hyde (concussion) is a strange case—he didn’t practice at all this week, seeming to be working through stage two of the concussion protocol, but the team is still calling him questionable. If he can’t clear the protocol by Sunday, the Bills will turn to Jaquan Johnson at free safety.
Cornerback Cam Lewis (wrist) is still limited in practice, and was listed as questionable for this week. Last week, the Bills opted to promote rookie Dane Jackson from the practice squad to give them numbers at the position. It’s likely that they’ll do the same thing, to give Lewis another week to heal. They’re helped by the injury situation on the Patriots’ roster, which has a totally barren group of wideouts available.
The last injury of note is guard Brian Winters (knee), who’s also questionable for the weekend. He practiced fully on Friday, and the Bills would really like to have him available, as they ease Jon Feliciano back into their offensive line for his first snaps of 2020.