Bills navigate a banged-up secondary and multiple questionable designations as they prepare for a key divisional clash
The Buffalo Bills enter Week 4 looking to assert their dominance in an early-season AFC East matchup against the New England Patriots. While head coach Joe Brasdy's squad has showcased its high-powered ceiling through the opening month, Friday's final injury report underscores a growing list of physical hurdles. Several key contributors across both offense and defense are carrying injury tags into the weekend, leaving game-time availability in question for critical spots on the roster.
The most concerning developments on the defensive side center around cornerback Christian Benford and defensive lineman T.J. Sanders. Benford has been listed as questionable after failing to participate in any practice activity all week. The starting perimeter cornerback was sidelined Wednesday, Thursday and Friday due to a nagging toe injury. Missing three straight practices usually points toward an uphill battle on game day, and his potential absence would put substantial pressure on Buffalo's secondary depth to contain outside perimeter routes.
Along the defensive line, Sanders faces an even steeper climb after being tagged as doubtful. Sanders missed Wednesday's session due to an illness, and while he managed limited participation on Thursday and Friday, the coaching staff opted for the doubtful designation. That signals the rookie lineman is unlikely to suit up on Sunday afternoon, testing Buffalo's interior line rotation.
Friday injury report pic.twitter.com/xJN3PDZYxK
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) October 2, 2026
Questionable designations cloud offensive skill positions
Offensively, the Bills will closely monitor two high-usage skill players right up until pregame warmups. Wide receiver Keon Coleman is officially listed as questionable due to an ankle ailment. Coleman missed Wednesday's practice before stringing together consecutive limited sessions on Thursday and Friday. Coleman's red-zone prowess and downfield size represent an important element of Buffalo’s passing attack, making his game-day status a pivotal storyline heading into kickoff.
Article Continues BelowRunning back Ray Davis joins Coleman with a questionable tag due to a hamstring injury. Davis was not listed on Wednesday's report, but he popped up as a full participant Thursday before being restricted to limited reps on Friday. Soft-tissue injuries late in the practice week are notoriously tricky, and Buffalo's medical staff will need to evaluate whether the bruising back can handle his complementary backfield snaps without aggravating the hamstring.
Core veterans and defensive starters clear injury report
Fortunately for Buffalo, the medical news was not entirely grim, as several key starters cleared the injury report without any game status designations.
Linebacker Joe Andreessen showed steady daily progress after sitting out Wednesday with a knee injury, ramping up from limited participation Thursday to a full session Friday.
Starting linebacker Terrel Bernard logged full practices Wednesday and Thursday while managing a knee issue and did not practice Friday strictly for veteran rest. Both linebackers carry no designation and are slated to start alongside Dorian Williams, who fully participated all three days despite a hip concern.
On the defensive front, pass rusher Bradley Chubb fully participated all week with a thumb issue and will play without restriction, while defensive lineman Deone Walker shook off an early-week quad ailment to log back-to-back full sessions. Defensive back Sam Franklin Jr. returned from a personal absence Thursday and was cleared cleanly.
Safety Damar Hamlin (ribs) and wide receiver DJ Moore (shoulder) practiced in a limited fashion all three days, but neither was handed a game designation. Guard Ar'maj Reed-Adams also fully practiced all week with an elbow injury, solidifying the interior offensive front as Buffalo aims to secure an important divisional victory on Sunday.