The Buffalo Bills are hosting the New Orleans Saints in Week 4, and things are looking up in the injury department. The extra few days off may have done them some good.
As we enter Week 4, New Orleans is 0-3, coming off one of the worst drubbings of the last decade, as the 3-0 Bills live large at the other end of the scale despite missing some stars in Week 3. With Friday's final injury report now available, let's break it down.
Bills Week 4 injury report vs. Saints per the Bills PR X account
OT Spencer Brown - Calf
The first of two new additions to the Bills injury report, Spencer Brown reportedly has a calf injury. He was injured in Week 2, and felt issues in the calf during the game in Week 3. He has been resting since, and did not practice to start the week.
He remained a non-participant until Friday, where he was upgraded to limited and handed a 'questionable' designation. In truth, the Buffalo Bills shouldn't need their starting left tackle to overcome the New Orleans Saints. If there's any risk of making this injury a longer problem than it has to be, Brown should probably sit. Still, he should be healthy enough to take the field. Buffalo will ultimately decide how to handle his status this weekend.
DE AJ Epenesa - Pectoral
AJ Epenesa has been quietly rotating through the Buffalo Bills defensive line this season. Until now, little had been heard from the former second-round selection. His pectoral injury doesn't seem as significant as Matt Milano's, and he was only limited in every practice this week.
Epenesa doesn't seem to be suffering from any major issue, and is questionable for Sunday. He would be expected to play but, as with Spencer Brown, the extra week of recovery as Buffalo plays a massively inferior opponent might be the better choice.
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.
Jordan Hancock practiced fully in Week 3, following his shoulder injury. Though he did not play, it was more a roster decision than a health one. He is off the injury report for Week 4 against the New Orleans Saints.
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.
Taron Johnson was unavailable against the New York Jets in Week 2 after suffering a quad injury. He was questionable for Week 3 against the Dolphins, but was active and played. For Week 4, he is off the injury report.
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.
Cam Lewis was questionable for Week 3 after a minor shoulder issue, but played. He is not on Week 4's injury report, and will play against the Saints.
DT Ed Oliver - Ankle
After being 'stepped on' in practice to start Week 2, Ed Oliver has yet to practice with an ankle injury. Despite having missed two games since the injury, he was not placed on the injured reserve.
Ed Oliver reportedly is 'headed in the right direction', per Sean McDermott's press conference on Wednesday, but did not practice this week and has already been declared out. Oliver will miss his third consecutive game, as his injury seems more significant than initially advertised.
LB Shaq Thompson - Hamstring/Hand
Shaq Thompson missed Week 2 with a hamstring and hand injury he suffered against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. When Week 3 opened up, he was a limited participant and questionable, but did play in the game and made some excellent tackles. For Week 4, he is off the injury report.
LB Matt Milano - Pectoral
Matt Milano suffered his pectoral injury in Week 2, and missed the second half. The short turnaround from Sunday to Thursday Night Football in Week 3 made it difficult to assess, but the fact that the Bills didn't send him to injured reserve highlights their belief that he won't miss as many as four games.
Milano too was said to be going in the right direction be Sean McDermott, but did not practice at all. Like Oliver, Milano has been declared out and misses his second consecutive game.
Injury Summary
Buffalo has already managed well without Matt Milano, but they're feeling the loss of Ed Oliver these last few weeks. Neither plays nor practices this week, shedding doubt onto the Week 5 Sunday Night Football matchup against the New England Patriots. It seems as though an injured reserve appearance may have ben wise, at least in Oliver's case. Still, there's plenty of time to prove people wrong.
As far as AJ Epenesa and Spencer Brown go, Buffalo needs neither to win this game. Epenesa offers good value as a low-level rotational player, good on speed rushes, but it not essential to the defensive line.
Brown, however, is an elite right tackle, capable of mauling defenders on both pass and run plays. Missing him would be noticeable, but the New Orleans Saints are not a powerhouse. Careful playcalling and an average game from either rostered backup, Ryan Van Demark or Alec Anderson, would give Brown the recovery time he needs to stay at 100% this season. Resting him would be wise, if there are any doubts about his health heading into kickoff.