Bernard (elbow) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Bernard was limited in practice Wednesday, and he now seems back to full health and ready to return from his three-game absence. Barring any setbacks, expect Bernard to return to his usual starting role at cornerback versus the Browns on Sunday.
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Bills' Taron Johnson: Limited in practice Thursday
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Johnson (quadriceps) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Johnson is dealing with a quadriceps injury he likely suffered in the Week 15 win over the Patriots. The slot cornerback was able to log a full walkthrough practice Wednesday with the injury, but was only a limited participant in Thursday's session. The starter will have one more session to attempt to elevate his practice participation in an effort to potentially avoid an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Browns. If Johnson cannot suit up, Cam Lewis will likely take over slot cornerback duties for the Bills' defense.
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Bills' DaQuan Jones: Downgrades to limited Thursday
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Jones (calf) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Jones missed three games earlier in the season with a calf injury, and the issue seems to have reignited in the wake of the Bills' Week 15 road victory over the Patriots. The downgrade in practice participation from Wednesday's session does not bode well for the starting defensive tackle, but he will have one more chance to re-elevate his participation, expunge any playing doubt, and potentially dodge an injury designation for Sunday's road game against the Browns.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Limited to begin Week 16
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Bernard (elbow) was limited in Wednesday's walk-through practice.
Bernard wasn't able to practice in any capacity prior to being ruled out for Buffalo's win over the Patriots in Week 15, so he's healthier to begin preparations for Sunday's road game against the Browns. If Bernard is able to get back on the field versus Cleveland, he'll be a fringe fantasy asset in IDP formats.
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Bills' Christian Benford: Listed as limited
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Benford (toe) was a limited participant in Wednesday's walkthrough practice.
Benford was unable to suit up for Buffalo's win over New England in Week 15. He didn't practice last Friday, so getting in at least limited on-field reps to begin Week 16 is a tangible step in the right direction. Benford will have two more chances to upgrade to full practice reps ahead of Sunday's game against Cleveland.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Dominant in big Week 15 victory
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Milano registered 10 tackles (nine solo), including 2.0 sacks, and forced a fumble Sunday in a 35-31 win against New England.
Milano put forth a monstrous effort in the comeback victory. He not only led Buffalo in tackles, he also sacked Drake Maye twice -- both in the second half. Milano's tackle total was a season-high mark and his most in a game since the 2023 campaign.
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Bills' Maxwell Hairston: Getting start Sunday
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Hairston will be one of Buffalo's starting cornerbacks in Week 15 versus New England as a result of Christian Benford missing the game due to a toe injury, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
This will be Hairston's second career start -- he previously got the nod in Week 10 against Miami, when he logged one tackle and an interception while Benford was sidelined due to a groin issue. The rookie has, however, gotten plenty of reps since making his NFL debut in Week 8, as he has typically logged a defensive snap share of around 50 percent. The conditions for Sunday's contest include frigid temperatures and possible snow, so it wouldn't be surprising if both squads go to the run game more often than usual.
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Bills' Christian Benford: Listed as questionable for Week 15
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Benford (toe) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Benford wasn't listed on Wednesday's injury report, but he then downgraded to limited practice activity Thursday and missed Friday's practice entirely, which may indicate that he's trending in the wrong direction for Sunday's game. He was spotted with a walking boot on his left foot Thursday. Rookie first-round pick Maxwell Hairston will stand to draw a start at cornerback if Benford can't play Sunday.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Limited at Wednesday's walkthrough
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Bernard (elbow) will be listed as limited at Wednesday's walk-through practice, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
Bernard seems to be making incremental progress, as he hadn't practiced or played since sustaining an elbow injury in Buffalo's Week 12 loss to the Texans. How he fares Thursday when the Bills hold an actual practice could be a key indicator regarding Bernard's potential availability for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: No large concern over cramps
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Coach Sean McDermott stated earlier this week that Bishop is "okay" after he left Sunday's game against the Bengals due to cramping, Alec White of the Bills' official site reports.
The cramps must have been really bothering Bishop for him to leave such a tight game with the Bills' playoff positioning hanging in the balance, but it also doesn't sound like something that will keep the IDP-friendly safety out of further action, which this week's practice reports should confirm. Bishop leads the Bills by a good margin with 71 total tackles on the season, and his three interceptions are tops on the team as well.
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Bills' Ed Oliver: Playoff return still possible
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Head coach Sean McDermott reiterated Friday that Oliver, who's on injured reserve with a biceps injury, could return to practice if Buffalo makes the playoffs, the Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports. "There's a chance. it would be more after the regular season, if we can get that far," McDermott said. "So that's kind of where his window would open up."
Oliver still has a few hurdles to clear before practicing, but his potential return would be a huge boost to Buffalo -- which has the third-worst run defense in the league -- if the Bills make the postseason for a seventh straight season. Oliver has been out since Week 8.
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Bills' Darnell Savage: Scooped up by Buffalo
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The Bills claimed Savage off waivers from the Commanders on Friday.
The veteran safety was waived by the Commanders on Thursday after being a healthy scratch for their Week 13 overtime loss to the Broncos. Savage gives the Bills added depth in the secondary, which is needed after Darius Slay -- whom Buffalo claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh on Wednesday -- refused to report to team facilities. Across 10 regular-season games with the Commanders (eight games) and the Jaguars (two games), Savage has accumulated 16 tackles (10 solo), two pass defenses and one forced fumble.
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Bills' A.J. Epenesa: Past foot injury
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Epenesa (foot) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Bengals.
Head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Friday that Epenesa "should be fine" after he missed Thursday's practice due to a foot injury. Now fully healthy, Epenesa is likely to play an expanded role on the Bills' defensive line in Week 14, as Joey Bosa (hamstring) is in line to miss his first game of the season.
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Bills' Joey Bosa: Won't play Sunday
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Head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Friday that Bosa (hamstring) won't play in Sunday's matchup against the Bengals, Matt Parrino of The Syracuse Post-Standard reports.
The 30-year-old sustained a hamstring injury in the Week 13 win over the Steelers and didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, so it's no surprise that he'll be held out Sunday. Bosa is an integral part of the Bills' pass rush, recording 26 total tackles, including 5.0 sacks, and five forced fumbles over 12 games this season. While he's out Week 14, Javon Solomon will likely start on Buffalo's defensive line.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Out for Week 14
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Head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Friday that Bernard (elbow) won't play in Sunday's matchup against the Bengals, Matt Parrino of The Syracuse Post-Standard reports.
The fourth-year pro from Baylor opened the Bills' week of practice with consecutive DNPs, so it's no surprise that he'll miss his second game in a row Sunday. While Bernard is sidelined in Week 14, Shaq Thompson is expected to operate as the Bills' top middle linebacker.
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Bills' A.J. Epenesa: DNP with foot
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Epenesa (foot) did not practice Thursday, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
Epenesa was a new addition to Thursday's injury report with a foot injury he likely suffered during Wednesday's session. With the potential absence of Joey Bosa (hamstring) looming as well, Epenesa's absence would pose a significant depth issue at defensive end for the Bills. If neither player can suit up Sunday, Javon Solomon will be the lone option opposite Greg Rousseau on the edge. With such a depleted room, practice squad members Shaq Lawson, Andre Jones, and Morgan Fox are candidates for Week 14 elevation.
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Bills' Darius Slay: Refuses to report
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Slay has informed the Bills that he is contemplating retirement and will not report to team facilities after being claimed off waivers Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Slay and the Steelers mutually parted ways after the veteran cornerback was a healthy scratch during last Sunday's loss to the Bills. The very same Bills then enlisted his talent by claiming him off waivers, a move that the cornerback's former team, the Eagles, also attempted. The Bills had higher waiver priority and ended up with the 34-year-old. It is worth considering that Slay's plan was a retirement tour with the team he won a Super Bowl with last February, and the Bills' claim scuttled those plans and prevented him from serving as a potential replacement for outside cornerback Adoree' Jackson in Philadelphia.
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Bills' Darius Slay: Lands in Buffalo
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The Bills claimed Slay off waivers from the Steelers on Wednesday, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
Slay and the Steelers mutually agreed to part ways after the 34-year-old was a healthy scratch during last week's loss to the Bills. During his tenure with the Steelers, Slay recorded 36 tackles (28 solo) and three pass breakups through 10 games. He'll add a veteran presence to the Bills' secondary, which features Christian Benford, Tre'Davious White and rookie first-round pick Maxwell Hairston. His first chance to suit up for the Bills is Sunday versus the Bengals.
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Bills' Joey Bosa: Nursing hamstring injury
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Bosa won't practice Wednesday and is considered week-to-week with a hamstring injury, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
The 30-year-old played a season-low 24 defensive snaps and likely sustained a hamstring injury in Buffalo's Week 13 win over the Steelers. Head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Wednesday that Bosa could be out anywhere from one to five weeks, but the team is hoping he returns sooner rather than later, per Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site. With Bosa likely sidelined for the Week 14 matchup against the Bills, A.J. Epenesa is expected to play a larger role on Buffalo's defensive line.
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Bills' Cole Bishop: Tallies four tackles in win
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Bishop recorded four tackles (one solo) during Sunday's 26-7 win at Pittsburgh.
Bishop's per-snap tackle production in Week 13 was in line with where it has been all season, but the Bills only needed him to play a season-low 40 defensive snaps Sunday. He figures to get a heavy dose of coverage assignments in Week 14 versus the pass-reliant Bengals.
