The Buffalo Bills enter Week 17 of the regular season in remarkably good shape for a playoff run—Cody Ford is the only starter on injured reserve, and Wednesday’s injury report only included three names (not counting QB Jake Fromm, of course). The most important injury from the list is Cole Beasley (knee), who was called out as “week to week” by head coach Sean McDermott on Tuesday. Beasley, Buffalo’s second-leading receiver, should be expected to miss the finale. The Bills are already taking action to reinforce their receiver room, signing Gary Jennings to their practice squad and reportedly pursuing Kenny Stills.
Keep in mind that, although the Bills activated John Brown from injured reserve, he was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list along with T.J. Yeldon, Christian Wade, and Josh Thomas. Brown was put on the list as a close contact with Yeldon, which (so far) suggests Brown didn’t test positive for the coronavirus. If that’s the case, Brown can be activated to the roster on Saturday ahead of the Miami Dolphins game. The same goes for Wade and Thomas, while Yeldon will need to test negative for the virus before he can be activated.
The two other names on the injury report are Jon Feliciano, who didn’t practice because of an illness, and Reggie Gilliam (knee/hamstring), who didn’t practice on Wednesday. Feliciano should be fine, while Gilliam didn’t practice last week (and missed the New England Patriots game) because of his injuries.
Assuming Beasley isn’t able to return for Week 17, the playoffs start right away, beginning on Saturday January 9, six days after Buffalo’s season finale. The divisional round takes place a week after the Wild Card round, the conference championship is a week later, and the Super Bowl comes two weeks after that. Given that schedule, consider Beasley “questionable” for Buffalo’s Wild Card game. We’ll know more about his chances to play on Tuesday or Wednesday after the Dolphins game.
Speaking of Miami, they’ve already ruled out linebacker Elandon Roberts and receiver/returner Jakeem Grant. Shaq Lawson, DeVante Parker, Solomon Kindley, and Bobby McCain were all limited in practice on Wednesday.