The Buffalo Bills have an important AFC East matchup against the New England Patriots this Sunday, although Sean McDermott’s squad will be short-handed. On Friday, Buffalo’s head coach announced that wide receiver Gabriel Davis and offensive lineman Cody Ford had been added to the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list. Special teams coordinator Heath Farwell and defensive line coach Eric Washington were added as well.
These two starters join wide receiver Cole Beasley, offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, defensive end A.J. Epenesa and offensive guard Jon Feliciano on the new reserve list. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Davis and Beasley are unvaccinated, so they will miss Week 16.
The NFL recently updated its COVID-19 protocols so that vaccinated individuals can “test out” of protocol, but as we have seen over the past week, it does not guarantee anything. It also makes it seem less likely for a player like Ford to return, since he was placed on the list two days before the game. Beasley, who is the Bills’ second leading receiver with 640 yards and one touchdown, will certainly be missed in the slot, but Davis will be as well, as he has been coming on as of late. He has caught four touchdowns over the last three games, and caught five passes for 85 yards and two scores last week against the Carolina Panthers.
The passing game will continue to be run through Stefon Diggs and Emmanuel Sanders. The latter was listed on this week’s injury report with a knee injury, but he was a full participant in Thursday’s session and should suit up.
