The Buffalo Bills clinched a division title faster than any team in 15 years despite weathering a barrage of injuries. They may find out how good they are at full strength.
Buffalo secured a fifth straight AFC East title with five games left. It is on a seven-game winning streak. The Bills have beaten the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs playing without starters at wide receiver, tight end, right tackle and linebacker.
Nearly everyone could be back this week as Buffalo (10-2) travels to play the Los Angeles Rams (6-6) at 4:20 p.m. Sunday. The Bills are going for a season sweep against the NFC West, already 3-0 with victories over the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.
Linebacker Matt Milano made his season debut in the Bills’ 35-10 drubbing of the 49ers in Week 13. Tight end Dalton Kincaid, wide receiver Keon Coleman and defensive tackle DeWayne Carter may be back this week.
Los Angeles rallied for a 21-14 road win against the New Orleans Saints. The Rams escaped with minor injuries to quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson.
NFL teams have to submit a report on practice participation on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for a Sunday game. There are three levels of practice participation that can be designated: did not participate, limited participation and full participation.
A game status report is due by 5 p.m. Friday for Sunday games.
Here is the Bills vs. Rams injury report for Week 14:
Buffalo Bills injury update for Week 14
Keon Coleman, WR, wrist
Keon Coleman has missed three straight games with an injured wrist. He returned to practice last week as a limited participant and was questionable to play against the 49ers in Week 13 but was inactive.
“There was conversation during the week (before the 49res game) trying to figure out where exactly he was,” head coach Sean McDermott said Monday. “It got to the point where it just didn’t look like he was going to be able to go but it took until the end of the week to really get the best feel for that.”
Coleman hurt his right wrist on a receiving end of a helmet-to-helmet hit by Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer on the Bills’ game-winning drive on Nov. 3 in Week 9. Poyer was flagged for a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on the hit, which jarred the ball loose on a deep pass attempt from Josh Allen. The penalty extended Buffalo’s drive, enabling Tyler Bass’ 61-yard field goal for the 30-27 win.
Coleman held his wrist as he walked to the sideline. He headed to the locker room in the final seconds and was wearing a brace on the wrist after the game.
The Bills elected not to place Coleman on injured reserve, which would have required him to miss a minimum of four games.
Status: Limited practice on Wednesday and Thursday
Dalton Kincaid, TE, knee
Dalton Kincaid has missed the last two games with a knee injury.
He left the Bills’ Week 10 win over the Colts in the first quarter, injuring his left knee diving for a ball. He went into the medical tent and locker room and returned to the sideline wearing a brace on his left knee. Kincaid came back for two snaps in the third quarter. He was initially ruled questionable to return but was downgraded to doubtful and did not come back to play.
Kincaid hasn’t practiced since and head coach Sean McDermott ruled Kincaid out of Week 13 against the 49ers the Friday before the game.
Status: Limited practice Wednesday and Thursday
Matt Milano, LB, biceps
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 01: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by Matt Milano #58 of the Buffalo Bills in the first quarter of a game at Highmark Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)© Timothy T Ludwig, Getty Images
Matt Milano was activated off injured reserve and made his season debut in the Bills’ 35-10 thumping of the 49ers on Sunday and wasn’t exactly eased in. Milano started and played 37 defensive snaps, 77%, finishing with five tackles.
“We tried to focus primarily on first and second down with his reps just to try to ease him back in,” head coach Sean McDermott said in his postgame press conference. “We knew it was going to be a little bit snowy during the game but not to the extent. So we didn’t have a ton of third downs just based on the way the game was played.
“He may have gotten a little more than we wanted. As he told me before the game, he was like ‘I’m going to sneak in on some third downs, too.”
McDermott said he heard the fans “go crazy” when Milano was announced before the game.
“I think they appreciate how tough he’s had to be over the last two years and his journey, just as much as who he is as a player” McDermott said. “When they were cheering for him, to me, what I heard was they were appreciative he worked himself to come back for the team.”
The Pro Bowl linebacker tore his biceps in training camp and had been on injured reserve all season.
He played in five games in 2023 before suffering a broken leg to end his season in Week 5.
Status: Full practice Wednesday and Thursday
DeWayne Carter, DT, wrist
Buffalo opened DeWayne Carter’s practice window from injured reserve on Nov. 27. The rookie third-round pick suffered a wrist injury that required surgery and was eligible to return in Week 13.
The Bills have 21 days from Nov. 11 to place Carter on the active roster or decide if he’ll stay on IR for the rest of the year.
Carter played in the first seven games, with nine tackles, three tackles for loss, two quarterback hits and one pass defensed.
Status: Full practice Wednesday and Thursday
Josh Allen, QB, hand
Josh Allen hit his funny bone in his otherworldly performance against the 49ers. Allen jumped in pain and held his left hand after taking on San Francisco tacklers for a 7-yard run in the first quarter. He didn’t miss any plays and finished with two passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and receiving touchdown.
“I got hit in the not-so-funny bone,” Allen said in his postgame press conference. “It was bad. I don’t know if anybody has been hit that hard in the funny bone where it feels like your hand is on fire. That’s what it felt like and I just kind of hand no feeling in my fingers for a few plays. Not fun.”
(Head athletic trainer Nate Breske) mentioned it this morning but did not seem concerned whatsoever about it,” head coach Sean McDermott said Monday.
Status: Not on the injury report
Tylan Grable, OT, abdomen
The Bills opened the 21-day practice window for rookie Tylan Grable on Nov. 27. Grable was a full participant prior to Week 13 but was ruled out against the 49ers.
The sixth-round pick suffered an abdomen injury in Buffalo’s victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3.
Status: Full practice Wednesday and Thursday
Injured reserve
The following Bills players are on injured reserve:
Dawuane Smoot, DE, wrist DeWayne Carter, DT, wrist Tylan Grable, OT, abdomen Travis Clayton, OT, shoulder Shane Buechele, QB, neck Tommy Doyle, OT, knee Baylon Spector, LB
Los Angeles Rams injury update for Week 14
Demarcus Robinson, WR, hand
Demarcus Robinson suffered a hand injury in the fourth quarter of the Rams’ 21-14 win against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Robinson had two catches for 49 yards and a touchdown before exiting. He was initially ruled questionable to return.
Rams head coach Sean McDermott said he expects Robinson to play against the Bills on Sunday.
“Demarcus got just a little hand avulsion,” McVay said. “We’re just going to have to protect that and pad it. He should be good to go.”
Robinson’s seven receiving touchdowns are tied for sixth in the NFL this year.
Robinson was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence on Nov. 25 after being observed driving more than 100 mph in California. The Rams chose not to suspend Robinson for Week 13.
Status: Limited practice Wednesday, full participant Thursday
Matthew Stafford, QB, ankle
Matthew Stafford suffered a lateral ankle sprain in the victory over the Saints in Week 13.
The quarterback’s week of preparation and practice shouldn’t be impacted, Rams head coach Sean McVay said on Monday.
“Got banged up a little bit. He’s tough, he pushes through and he should be good to go,” McVay said.
Stafford, 36, completed 14 of 24 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
Status: Full practice Wednesday and Thursday
Tyler Higbee, TE, knee
Tyler Higbee has missed the entire season after suffering a torn ACL and MCL in a playoff loss to the Detroit Lions in January. Higbee has been on the reserve/physically unable to perform list in 2024.
Higbee, 31, returned to practice for the first time last week. McVay said there’s a possibility Higbee could return against the Bills but it’s more likely the team targets Week 15 or beyond for his first game back.
“He has exceeded everybody’s expectations probably other than his own. It was great having him back out there. He’ll get another great week of practice and we’ll see where that leads us,” McVay said. “If I was to say is it more or less likely that he would be able to play this week, probably a little bit less likely even though he might be able to, but whether or not we’re quite at that point I don’t know that yet.”
Status: Full practice Wednesday and Thursday
KT Leveston, OL, ankle
The Rams opened KT Leveston’s 21-day practice window on Nov. 20. The rookie seventh-round pick has spent the entire season on injured reserve.
Status: Full practice Wednesday and Thursday
Injured reserve
The following Rams players are on injured reserve:
John Johnson III, S Derion Kendrick, CB Conor McDermott, OL Larrell Murchison, DE Troy Reeder, LB Tre Tomlinson, CB KT Leveston, OL