THE Buffalo Bills received some good news Monday regarding their injured defense. They received some bad news Tuesday about a future Hall of Famer facing disciplinary action.
Starting middle linebacker Terrel Bernard, who has not played since leaving with a pectoral injury in Week 2, is expected to practice all week and may be able to play when the Bills travel to the Houston Texans at 1 p.m. Sunday. But Von Miller, an eight-time Pro Bowl standout, will begin serving a four-game suspension handed down Tuesday for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
It’s the latest blow for a Bills defense that was without linebacker Matt Milano, nickel back Taron Johnson and safety Taylor Rapp due to injuries.
The attrition of the Bills defense was finally exposed during a 35-10 drubbing by the Baltimore Ravens as Buffalo gave up 271 yards on the ground, 199 to Derrick Henry.
Houston bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 24-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the Texans are more hurt on offense. Running backs Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce and receiver Tank Dell were inactive against the Jaguars.
NFL teams must submit a report on their participation in Wednesday, Thursday and Friday practices for a Sunday game. There are three levels of practice participation that can be designated: non-participation, limited participation, and full participation.
A match status report is expected Friday at 4 p.m. for Sunday matches.
Here are the Bills against the Texans injury report for week 5:
Buffalo Bills Injury Update for Week 5
Khalil Shakir, WR, ankle
Khalil Shakir injured his right ankle while being tackled after making a catch against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4. He had his right ankle taped by athletic trainers and returned to the game , leading the Bills with four catches for 62 yards. Shakir was spotted wearing a walking boot after the match.
Josh Allen, QB, returns
Josh Allen was injured after taking multiple hits on a play in which he was sacked and lost a fumble against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4.
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady called a trap play in the third quarter. Curtis Samuel took a direct snap and threw the ball to Allen, who was lined up wide. Baltimore linebacker Kyle Van Noy sniffed it, knocking the ball out of Allen’s hands as the quarterback straightened up to throw it. Allen was then pushed to the ground by Ravens defensive tackle Travis Jones.
“It was a really bad play call,” Brady said. “There’s no other way to sum it up. In the end, it cost us a football game.
Allen lay face down for a moment and took a while to get up. He spoke briefly with the team doctor and a trainer, slammed his tablet to the ground and warmed up by throwing sideways. He returned on the Bills’ next possession.
Backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky relieved Allen in the fourth quarter because the game was a blowout, not because of injury.
“It was more just my lower back hitting the ground than anything else,” Allen said after the game. “So it’s all good.”
Bills coach Sean McDermott said Monday that Allen “should be fine.”
Taylor Rapp, S, head
Taylor Rapp is in the league’s concussion protocol. Rapp suffered a concussion while taking on Ravens running back Derrick Henry 1-on-1 in Week 4.
Rapp lowered his shoulder and made an open field tackle, hitting Henry’s upper thigh with his left shoulder. Rapp took some time to get up but left the field with the medical staff and headed toward the medical tent and locker room. The Bills demoted Rapp for the remainder of the game due to a concussion.
Bills safety Taylor Rapp went down after confronting Derrick Henry.
He was helped off the field by coaches. It looked like his shoulder had taken most of the blow. pic.twitter.com/TxjULvgwQH
-Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) September 30, 2024
Terrel Bernard, LB, pectoral
Terrel Bernard suffered a pectoral strain in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2. Bernard avoided a torn pectoral and season-ending injury, Bills coach Sean McDermott initially said Bernard could be away for about a month.
He missed games in Weeks 3 and 4, but returned to practice in a limited capacity last week. Bernard traveled with the team to Baltimore and was on the sideline during the game against the Ravens.
Head coach Sean McDermott said Monday he expects Bernard to practice this week.
Taron Johnson, CB, forearm
Taron Johnson was injured seven games into Week 1 while trying to tackle Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch. Johnson did not return to the game. Head coach Sean McDermott did not give a timetable for the starting guard’s return, but Johnson was not placed on injured reserve, which would have required missing four weeks.
Johnson missed Weeks 2, 3 and 4. Johnson traveled with the team to Baltimore and was on the sideline during the game against the Ravens.
Head coach Sean McDermott said Johnson was a question mark heading into practice this week.
Tylan Grable, offensive tackle, groin
Rookie sixth-round pick Tyler Grable suffered a groin and abdominal injury in the fourth quarter against the Jaguars in Week 3.
McDermott initially said Grable was “most likely out for a while.”
Grable did not play in Week 4.
#Invoices OT #68 Tylan Grable R Groin injury.
Appears to hurt groin at 1st or 2nd clip (2nd out of sight)
2nd/3rd clip, grab R groin to try to fix the problem. He left the field on the 4th try, excluded.
Past inj hx bills indicate that OL/DL is less likely to miss the next GM against talented players. pic.twitter.com/M6IwZOx9kN
– BangedUpBills (@BangedUpBills) September 24, 2024
Injured reserve
The following Bills players are on injured reserve:
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Travis Clayton, OT
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Matt Milano, LB
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Darrynton Evans, RZB
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Shane Buechele, quarterback
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Tommy Doyle, occupational therapist
Houston Texans Injury Update for Week 5
Laremy Tunsil, OT, ankle
Four-time Pro Bowl tackle Laremy Tunsil injured his left ankle in the second quarter, but returned in the third quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4. Tunsil limped off the field and was examined by a sports trainer before heading towards the medical tent. and the locker room.
Joe Mixon, RB, ankle
Joe Mixon has not played since injuring his ankle while being dragged to the ground following an apparent hip tackle in Week 2. Mixon was taken to the ground by linebacker of the Chicago Bears, TJ Edwards. No flag was thrown but Edwards was later fined $16,883..
Mixon returned to practice in limited capacity the Friday before Week 4 and was listed as questionable but was inactive for the game.
DeMeco Ryans, Houston head coach said Monday that Mixon and Tank Dell are “day by day this week and we will see how they progress throughout the training week.”
Mixon had 159 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries in Week 1.
Dell tank, WR, trunk
Tank Dell was hit during Houston’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3. He suffered hand, wrist and rib injuries and missed Week 4 with a chest injury.
Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans calls Dell “everyday.”
Dell had 47 receptions for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games as a rookie in 2023 before fracturing his fibula. He was hospitalized after being shot in the leg during a pool party on April 27, 2024.
Dameon Pierce, RB, hamstring
Dameon Pierce suffered a hamstring injury in the season opener and missed the final three games.
Jimmie Ward, S, groin
Jimmie Ward did not play in Week 4 due to a groin injury.
Injured reserve
The following Texas players are on injured reserve:
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Brevin Jordan, TE
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Jeff Okudah, CB
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Brandon Hill, S.
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Kurt Hinish, DT.
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Christian Harris, L.B.
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Case Keenum, QB
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Dalton Keene, TE
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Jaylon Thomas, occupational therapist
This article originally appeared on the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills vs. Texans injury update: Joe Mixon, Tank Dell still injured
