ORCHARD PARK - Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott said Friday morning that he’s not ready to rule anyone out of Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots.
That’s the good news. The not so great news is that seven players - including a whopping six on defense, four of whom are starters - will be listed as questionable for the game, and there’s a chance that several of them might not be able to play. All have been limited at practice.
Buffalo Bills injury report: Defensive players questionable for Patriots
That group is defensive backs Rasul Douglas, Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin, linebackers Matt Milano, Dorian Williams and Baylon Spector, and wide receiver Curtis Samuel.
Last week in Detroit, the Bills’ defense was far below full capacity as they were missing Rapp, Douglas and Hamlin in the secondary, then played parts of the game without Milano and Williams who got hurt, though Williams was able to return at the end.
It’s hard to speculate who might be ruled inactive Sunday, but Douglas is battling a knee injury and Milano a groin injury, and you would think those are two players, given those injuries, who may be held out.
Rapp (neck), Hamlin (ribs) and Samuel (ribs) seem like they might have good chances to play, while Williams (elbow) and Spector (calf) are unknown.
New England Patriots injury report: Defensive star out
Meanwhile in New England, the Patriots will be without their superb defensive tackle Christian Barmore because he is back on the reserve non-football illness list Wednesday.
Barmore missed the first 10 games of the season due to blood clotting, and he has apparently been suffering from symptoms of that condition after playing four games, so the Patriots are shutting him down.
“We appreciate everything Christian did to return to the team this season, but our top priority is Christian’s health and well being,” the team said in a statement. “We know that he will continue to receive tremendous care and we want to ensure that he gets the time he needs to come back stronger than ever.”
