The Buffalo Bills are taking on the Miami Dolphins in Week 3 on Thursday Night Football, but they'll be short-handed. They were understaffed against the New York Jets in Week 2 also, but won handily. The Miami Dolphins may be 0-2, but they're still a thereat. With Buffalo's stars like Ed Oliver and Matt Milano missing games, every man matters. With the final injury report now available, let's break it down.
Bills Week 3 injury report vs. Miami Dolphins per the Bills PR X account
CB Christian Benford - Groin
After dealing with a minor groin injury to start the season, Christian Benford is off the injury report for Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins.
CB Brandon Codrington - Knee
An injury cropped up for Codrington on Week 1's Sunday Night Football matchup. He had some limitations to start Week 2, but is off the injury report for Week 3. Codrington has no issues for Thursday.
WR Keon Coleman - Groin
Keon Coleman's groin injury to start the year was cause for concern, but no more. He was critical in Week 1 and quietly efficient in Week 2. Following two solid starts, there are no further concerns about Coleman's groin.
Coleman is no longer on the injury report for Week 3.
RB James Cook - Hamstring
James Cook graced the injury report to start Week 2, but ultimately had no game designation. He racked up 135 total yards and two touchdowns on 22 touches, including a dynamic run to help put Buffalo up big. As Buffalo kicks off Week 3, Cook is completely healthy and off the injury report.
DB Jordan Hancock - Shoulder
After being added to the injury report last last week, Jordan Hancock was questionable with a shoulder injury. He missed the contest, but was fully practicing to start Week 3. Following three complete practices with no limitations, he is ready to play this week.
CB Taron Johnson - Quad
Taron Johnson came up with a quad injury in Week 2, which kept him out of practice, though he was a limited participant on Thursday and Friday. He was ruled as questionable against the New York Jets but did not play, and was limited for every practice in Week 3. He's been designated as questionable against the Miami Dolphins.
DB Cam Lewis - Shoulder
Cam Lewis made some plays on Sunday against the New York Jets, but at a price. He suffered a shoulder injury on a tackle, which kept him limited in practice all week. He's questionable for Thursday, but the injury itself is minor.
TE Dawson Knox - Hip
Knox was dealing with a minor hip injury last week that affected his practice, but was off the injury report for Week 3. He has no limitations for TNF.
DT Ed Oliver - Ankle
Ed Oliver was a force to be reckoned with in Week 1; His performance was crucial to the Buffalo Bills comeback win. Unfortunately, he was 'stepped on' in practice to start Week 2, and has been in a walking boot since. Oliver has not practiced yet, with an expected return timeline of roughly 3 weeks from injury.
Fortunately, he was not sent to the injured reserve, meaning Buffalo doesn't expect him to miss more than another game or two. Ed Oliver is one of the best players on this defense, and the Bills need him back as soon as possible. They may have an easy stretch of schedule ahead, but this is still the NFL. He did not practice this week and is out for Thursday, but hopefully not much longer.
DE Greg Rousseau - Knee
Greg Rousseau was limited all of the last week with a knee injury, but is off the injury report against the Miami Dolphins. He will be starting on Thursday.
LB Shaq Thompson - Hamstring/Hand
Shaq Thompson's hand and hamstring injuries limited him in practice last week, and he started off Monday's practice the same. It's unclear when in Week 1's matchup against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens Thompson actually hurt himself, but it shouldn't bench him any longer. He's officially questionable for Thursday.
CB Tre'Davious White - Groin
After initial concerns about Tre'Davious White missing the beginning parts of the season, he managed to avoid any major injury. He was questionable heading into Week 2, but started and made is debut against the Jets.
He was not on the injury report at all this week, and is a full-go for Thursday Night Football.
LB Matt Milano - Pectoral
Matt Milano has struggled to shed the 'injury prone' label in recent years. From his horrific leg injury in London in 2023, his uphill battle has been rife with pitfalls.
His latest injury, to his pectoral, came sometime during the Bills' Week 2 crushing of the New York Jets. He wasn't given an injury designation, but missed the second half. He missed practice all week, and has already been declared out for Thursday.
The short turnaround before TNF against the Miami Dolphins makes getting an accurate read on Milano's injury difficult. The full recovery window is much longer. The Buffalo Bills could opt to send Milano to the injured reserve, but have yet to do so, implying his return will come sooner than four weeks from now.
Injury Summary
Matt Milano and Ed Oliver are notable losses, but the Bills played dominant football without either of them last week. The New York Jets don't have the offensive tools Miami has, yet Buffalo remains large favourites in this one despite their most obvious losses.
Their duo of questionable players in the secondary are less than ideal, considering Taron Johnson and Cam Lewis are both starter and replacement at nickel corner. Buffalo will need help in the middle third of the field if one or both are unable to play. Expect LBs Dorian Williams, Joe Andreessen, and the rookie DB Jordan Hancock to fill in on defense.