The Buffalo Bills are rather battered, as they come off a huge Wild Card win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Denver Broncos are up next, and the husk of the Bills roster will have to step up. With a majority of the Bills' receiving core gone, the rest will have to step up.
That fateful final Thursday injury report is here per the Bills' PR team. Let's break it down ahead of Saturday's Divisional Round showdown. Start reading now if you want to be done by kickoff.
Bills' Divisional Round final injury report vs. Broncos
QB Josh Allen - Foot/Knee/Right Finger
Game Status: AVAILABLE
It would take divine intervention to keep Josh Allen off the football field this weekend, but it almost happened. His foot injury, coupled with his new knee and finger injuries, would slow down a mortal man.
We can joke about Josh Allen being unstoppable, but in reality these injuries are notable. He was limited at practice on Tuesday's walkthrough, with a short week to get ready. He was back to his usual self by Wednesday, and claims he feels better, but his injuries will make him more prone to re-injury.
Allen is a one-of-a-kind player; Powering through injury is just part of that. Still, the Bills will be running often this weekend, and Josh Allen's health is only part of that gameplan.
LB Terrel Bernard - Calf
Game Status: QUESTIONABLE
Terrel Bernard made progress this week, but won't be at 100% for this game. He's struggled with health for much of this season, and his latest injury has held him back significantly. He missed the Wild Card round, though Shaq Thompson filled in admirably once again.
Bernard laws his way back, upgrading to limited participation in practice all week. Officially, he's questionable for Saturday.
DE A.J. Epenesa - Neck
Game Status: AVAILABLE
A.J. Epenesa wasn't flagged for an injury in-game, but cropped up with a neck issue on Tuesday's report. He was limited initially, but wasn't flagged later in the week. He is good to go for Saturday.
CB Maxwell Hairston - Ankle
Game Status: OUT
After missing the Wild Card round with an ankle injury sustained in Week 18, Maxwell Hairston had hoped for a Divisional Round return. That is no longer in the cards, as Hairston failed to practice all week and is ruled out.
S Damar Hamlin - Pectoral
Game Status: IR - Questionable To Be Activated
At last, Damar Hamlin is set to make his return. He went to the injured reserve early this season with a pectoral issue, and Buffalo seemed to figure out the safety situation in his absence.
Now, with Jordan Poyer injured, Rapp on the reserve, and few options remaining, Damar is set to be active against the Broncos. He practiced in full all week, and has no designation for gameday. Though currently on the injured reserve, Damar might be activated.
RB Ty Johnson - Ankle
Game Status: QUESTIONABLE
Ty Johnson was ruled out late last week after being declared questionable for gameday. This week things are no clearer. Johnson failed to practice until Thursday, and is questionable for the Divisional Round. In a week where Josh Allen's passing game needs all the help it can get, having Johnson available would be a massive help.
TE Dalton Kincaid - Knee/Calf
Game Status: AVAILABLE
Dalton Kincaid is reportedly fine, but still left Sunday's game against the Jaguars in a walking boot. Sean McDermott clarified that it was 'precautionary', but Kincaid was limited in practice all week.
His injury management has been awkward and difficult for the past month and beyond, but he's been unhampered on gamedays. This weekend is no different, as he has no designation and will suit up.
LB Matt Milano - Ankle
Game Status: AVAILABLE
His ankle injury is new, but Matt Milano has been surprisingly healthy this season. The Bills' plan for injuries at this stage seems to be rest early and check later- Not ideal for the playoffs but what choice do they have? Milano was limited to all week, but will be active on Saturday.
DT Ed Oliver - Bicep
Game Status: IR - Questionable To Be Activated
In a surprise twist, McDermott's words don't seem to have been gamesmanship- Ed Oliver really did return to practice before the Super Bowl. Though it's far from certain, his recovery seems to have gone well. He was out of his red non-contact jersey by Wednesday morning, and limited in practice finish the week. Officially he's questionable for gameday, with a lot of encouraging progress.
S Jordan Poyer - Hamstring
Game Status: OUT
Unfortunately, Jordan Poyer re-aggravated his hamstring injury on Sunday and was ruled out early for Saturday. The potential return of Damar Hamlin may help, but Poyer's loss hurts the secondary.
K Matt Prater - Right Quad/Right Calf
Game Status: AVAILABLE
It's difficult to say, but Matt Prater's second right leg injury shouldn't affect him any more than his first already does. He tweaked his calf during the Wild Card matchup with Jacksonville, on top of the right quad injury he'd already sustained.
Though he didn't practice on Tuesday, he was a full-go on Wednesday, and is ready for gameday. It may feel uncertain, but his injury management has been relatively consistent so far.
DE Greg Rousseau - Back
Game Status: AVAILABLE
Another player who's injury status didn't show up until after the Bills returned to Buffalo, Greg Rousseau is dealing with a back ailment. It hasn't kept him from practicing, but it's been light work. Rousseau is good to go for gameday.
WR Curtis Samuel - Elbow
Game Status: IR - To Be Activated
Curtis Samuel is potentialy set to make his return, straight off the injured reserve. His elbow injury was real, but minor; His banishment to the injured reserve was more a roster decision than a health one. Now, he is activated out of necessity. Opinions aside, Samuel should be good to go for Saturday but is still listed as questionable for now.
WR Tyrell Shavers - ACL
Game Status: IR
Tyrell Shavers tore his ACL in the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars, yet finished the game. He played 22 snaps following halftime, showing great toughness. That toughness will be missed, as Shavers is done for the remainder of the season and hits injured reserve.
WR Gabe Davis - ACL
Game Status: IR
Gabriel Davis had been a boon for the Bills, but no longer. His torn ACL, which saw him carted off against the Jaguars in the Wild Card round, ends his season. Buffalo will undoubtedly miss him.
WR Joshua Palmer - Ankle
Game Status: IR
After being listed as questionable last week, Joshua Palmer hit the injured reserve ahead of Sunday's game against the Jaguars. Had the Bills known that Tyrell Shavers and Gabe Davis were about to synchronize their season-ending injuries, Palmer likely would stay active and play though injury. It's too late now.
LB Shaq Thompson - Neck
Game Status: AVAILABLE
Shaq Thompson was limited with his neck injury last week, but was ready for gameday and played a major role on defense with Terrel Bernard out. This week: Expect the same as Thompson gets work in an injured LB core. He was limited in practice once again, but is still ready for gameday.
Injury Summary
Buffalo are worrisomely thin at wide receiver. Not that they were comfortable before, but now they lack even the reassurance of actively rostered players helping out. Of their active receivers, only one will have been a part of the Bills' plans all season- Khalil Shakir.
Curtis Samuel is coming off the practice squad out of necessity. Keon Coleman is the lone big-body receiver they have left despite his removal from the team on multiple occasions. Brandin Cooks only signed with Buffalo at the end of November. Injuries hve plagued the Bills all season, but this specific woe is unheard of.
Winning with practice squad callups and sheer willpower would become an inscrutable part of Josh Allen's Hall of Fame resume.
Ed Oliver's potential for a return would be a huge boon for the Bills defense. The fact he's questionable at all is a massive break for Buffalo, but don't expect him to be active. He may surprise us, but is still injured.
Damar Hamlin could make his return, though there's no guarantee he starts.