Buffalo Bills incumbent starting right guard Jon Feliciano is out indefinitely after surgery to repair a chest injury. The news was first reported by Buff Fanatics and first confirmed by Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 followed by others.
Banged Up Bills theorized that the timing of the injury likely makes it a torn pectoral muscle suffered while weightlifting. That would place him out for 8-12 weeks, and that’s the time frame most reporters have gone with.
With Feliciano out, the Bills’ opportunity to bring back their entire starting line goes out the window, at least for the first few weeks of the season. Skillfully, the Bills built a ton of depth at the position between last offseason and this offseason so plenty of players could step into the role.
Spencer Long, Daryl Williams, and Evan Boehm all have starting experience at guard in the NFL. Williams is a former All-Pro at right tackle and still could be in play at that position. Long has extensive experience at guard and center and stepped in for Feliciano at right guard last year when Mitch Morse was out, forcing Feliciano to center. Boehm was added this offseason but spent time with the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts a year ago. Ike Boettger is also available at guard and has been with the Bills for several years, playing sparingly.
If Feliciano injured himself at the team facility, he will be eligible for Injured Reserve. If they want to bring him back in 2020, he’ll need to make the initial 53-man roster first before going on IR for 8 weeks. If he was injured at home, the team can add him to the PUP list immediately and keep him off the roster until a few weeks into the season. The team has not commented nor made a roster move yet.
The Bills’ official statement didn’t include a roster move.