The Buffalo Bills picked up a preseason win on Friday but lost some notable players in the process. Here are the latest updates.
Three weeks from tonight we will hopefully be celebrating a Buffalo Bills victory in Week 1 of the NFL season. For now we are stuck looking for meaning in the preseason.
Friday’s victory over the Browns made for a nice night, but it came with a cost.
AJ McCarron was ruled out with an injury that was reportedly a hairline fracture of his collarbone. Then Kyle Williams was seen leaving the stadium with a cast on his leg.
This was awful news for both players and Sean McDermott provided a bit of clarity today on both of their situations:
Coach McDermott: “AJ McCarron will undergo further tests on his injury and Kyle Williams will be week-to-week with a knee injury.” pic.twitter.com/BUA1eM0mOu
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 19, 2018
The Williams news is the simple part. He is out for now and Harrison Phillips slides into his spot along the defensive line.
The McCarron part is interesting because this means the team isn’t certain McCarron’s injury is truly a fractured collarbone that would keep him out for a few months.
Sean McDermott says tests on AJ McCarron are “not totally conclusive” and he is in the process of receiving a second opinion on his shoulder.
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) August 19, 2018
It would be hard to imagine McCarron receiving this first diagnosis and then being cleared as totally fine. But it is still a possibility.
Even if he is cleared to play, his chances of starting don’t look too strong after his start on Friday. Bad blocking aside, it was ugly.
In other injury news, a receiver fighting for a roster spot was back on the field after missing the game in Cleveland.
Brandon Reilly back practicing, but in a red non-contact jersey. #Bills
— Chris Brown (@ChrisBrownBills) August 19, 2018
Reilly isn’t someone expected to be a big player for the Bills this year but he has shown some promise in camp and picked up a big chunk reception in the first preseason game against Carolina.
If he wants to make the team he will have to get back on the field for next Sunday’s game against the Bengals.
The main focus from all this news is the second opinion being given to McCarron. We shall stay tuned.