The Buffalo Bills toppled the New England Patriots in Week 15, and without some of their best defenders. This week, they can expect reinforcements as they fight for the AFC East crown. The Cleveland Browns ma not be a playoff team, but they're capable, and Buffalo needs everybody.
The Friday injury report is in. Let's break it down.
Bills' Week 16 injury report vs. Browns per the Bills' PR X account
CB Christian Benford - Toe
Game Status: AVAILABLE
Christian Benford was suddenly downgraded to a non-participant last week after opening practice without a problem. He was seen in a small walking boot shortly after and missed Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.
Now, he's back to practice, though in a limited fashion. He did manage to participate fully on Friday, leading to his lack of game status, but it would be no surprise to see him take rest if the opportunity arises.
LB Terrel Bernard - Elbow
Game Status: AVAILABLE
After his third consecutive missed game, Terrel Bernard is slowly coming back. Credit goes to Sean McDermott, Bobby Babich, and Shaq Thompson for how the defense has managed without him in the middle, but his return will make a difference. Bernard opened the week as limited in practice, but escalated to fully participating by Thursday. Bernard is back Sunday.
DE Joey Bosa - Hamstring/Wrist
Game Status: AVAILABLE
The impact of Joey Bosa on the Bills' pass rush this season cannot be overstated. Though he missed Week 14, Bosa returned to practice for Week 15, beating his 'week-to-week' timeline set by McDermott. Now, he's off the injury report and back to full strength.
OT Dion Dawkins - Illness
Game Status: AVAILABLE
After cropping up with an illness that kept him out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday, Dion Dawkins returned on Friday and has no limitations for Sunday. All clear here.
WR Mecole Hardman - Calf
Game Status: QUESTIONABLE
Mecole Hardman seems ready to work his way back off the injured reserve, where he landed ahead of Week 12 after only a week on the roster. Active or not, Hardman offered a skillset that Buffalo hasn't been able to unleash from Curtis Samuel.
Though Hardman was limited in practice to start the week, he was quickly upgraded to a full participant. Though yet to be officially brought off IR, he is questionable for Sunday.
CB Taron Johnson - Quad
Game Status: AVAILABLE
Taron Johnson received some treatment for his quad injury sustained against the Patriots in Week 15. The injury is minor, but he was limited in Thursday's practice. His veteran rest day on Friday was a needed break, it seems. He is good to go for Sunday against the Browns.
DT DaQuan Jones - Calf
Game Status: AVAILABLE
DaQuan Jones is the latest in a long string of defensive tackles to suffer injuries this season, including himself. This calf injury seems minor, as it didn't initially interrupt his practice schedule, but his downgrade to a limited role on Thursday is something to keep an eye on. He had a veteran rest day on Friday, but as far as Sunday he is available to play.
TE Dalton Kincaid - Knee
Game Status: AVAILABLE
Dalton Kincaid returned last week with emphasis, but was quickly out of practice again with the knee injury that has plagued him for some time. Off the field on Wednesday and Thursday, Kincaid participated on Friday in an unlimited capacity. The injury management is odd, but he has no restrictions for Sunday.
WR Joshua Palmer - Knee/Ankle
Game Status: AVAILABLE
Joshua Palmer is finally off the Bills injury report, for the first time since Week 5. His impact on the field has been minimal this season, but as a healthy player perhaps he can elevate this offense after all.
DB Cam Lewis - Hamstring
Game Status: QUESTIONABLE
Cam Lewis cropped up on the report after Thursday's practice with a new hamstring injury. He was initially a limited participant but downgraded on Friday. Lewis is officially questionable for Week 16.
T Chase Lundt - Knee
Game Status: OUT
Chase Lundt, the Bills rookie offensive tackle, went down on Thursday with a knee injury and didn't practice Friday. Sean McDermott ruled him out early on Friday, but gave no further information.
K Matt Prater - Right Quad
Game Status: OUT
The Bills have lost their kicker for Week 16. Matt Prater went 5 of 5 on his extra point attempts in the Bills 35-31 win over the New England Patriots last week. On Monday, his surprising quad injury ruled out for the week. Prater has been very good for the Bills this season after the sudden loss of Tyler Bass, but will miss Week 16. He's considered week-to-week by Sean McDermott.
DT Jordan Phillips - Ankle
Game Status: OUT
The Bills lost Jordan Phillips early in Week 15's AFC East showdown, as he left the game with an ankle injury and didn't return. He was spotted post-game in a walking boot, and was ruled out for Week 16 first thing Monday morning.
P Mitch Wishnowsky - Right Knee
Game Status: AVAILABLE
Mitch Wishnowsky became the 10th player this season for the Bills to have a spontaneous mid-week practice injury, hurting his kicking leg sometime on Thursday.
Injury Summary
After losing Matt Prater, the Bills signed Michael Badgley to the practice squad, a kicker with the Colts earlier this season. He's one of very few players available with experience kicking in 2025, and played well. In a pinch, there are no better choices.
The team seems plagued by mid-week injuries after adjusting their strength and conditioning staff in the offseason. These two things may be unrelated, but it's a bad look for a team hoping to acquire notable free agents in March.