Bills Wide Receiver Sammy Watkins Inactive
By Dennis Moody
Buffalo Bills star wide receiver Sammy Watkins will be inactive this week.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted this morning that Sammy Watkins will be inactive for today’s matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.
#Bills WR Sammy Watkins (foot), who got stepped on in a walk-through this week, is out vs. #AZCardinals, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 25, 2016
This news hurts but it’s not exactly a surprise. Just yesterday Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan said according to NFL.com, “Odds probably not real good that he plays. If he feels good and up to it he will. Don’t officially count him out.”
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The reason why Sammy Watkins was able to play the first two weeks but isn’t able to go this week on extended rest is because the injury was aggravated when it was stepped on during a walkthrough by a teammate.
When it was stepped on his pain was noticeable by one account. According to the Buffalo News, Robert Woods said, “Something occurred with his foot. He just, seeing his face, he made a little face. It bothered him, whatever it was.”
With Watkins out Arizona can now concentrate on stopping LeSean McCoy. They have a talented secondary that can stay with the Bills receivers in man coverage and so they should be able to bring up extra defenders in the box to limit McCoy.
If you’re thinking this might be a good time for Robert Woods to step up, history would tell you don’t get your hopes up. In three games with Watkins out last year, Woods averaged just over four catches for 41 yards. He only scored one touchdown over that same three game span. Not exactly electrifying numbers.
Charles Clay did have his best game last year when Watkins was hurt. Against the New York Giants, he had nine receptions for 111 yards. He was limited early this week with a knee injury but if he’s able to run around freely he might be the Bills top target today.
Next: Bills vs. Cardinals: Three Keys to the Game
The Cardinals were already going to be a tough matchup for a Bills team that is desperate for a win. That task just got a little taller today with the news of Sammy Watkins officially being out of the lineup. The NFL is a ‘”next man up” type of league, and the Bills are going to need a player to step up if they want to rack up their first win of the year this week.