Important Bills Starters in Jeopardy of Missing Sunday’s Game

The Buffalo Bills were back on the practice field on Thursday afternoon, as their week 5 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers looms closer.

This is on paper, the Bills easiest-looking game on the schedule. It's a 1 pm game at Highmark Stadium, against a Steelers team who is dealing with injuries, starting a rookie quarterback making his first career NFL start, and has been largely a disappointment on offense.

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However, the Bills are dealing with as many injuries as we have ever seen in the Sean McDermott era.

Tre'Davious White, Christian Benford and Jamison Crowder won't play on Sunday and they have two players on season-ending injured reserve (Micah Hyde, Tommy Doyle).

The Bills had 16 total players on the injury report on Wednesday and Thursday, with six players listed as "did not practice."

Jordan Poyer, Tremaine Edmunds and Dawson Knox all did not practice again on Thursday and that means they will have to practice in some capacity on Friday in order to be in contention to play on Sunday.

The good news is that Gabe Davis is a full participant right now in practice with his sprained ankle and Isaiah McKenzie is limited but still in concussion protocol.

Poyer missing would mean that Jaquan Johnson and Damar Hamlin would start, while Edmunds missing would mean Tyler Dodson would be called upon. Quintin Morris and Tommy Sweeney would likely split time at tight end if Knox cannot play.

If McKenzie isn't cleared in time, that would definitely indicate that Isaiah Hodgins and maybe even Tanner Gentry would be elevated from the practice squad and active for the Bills on Sunday. Chances are Hodgins is active on Sunday with Crowder and Kumerow likely to miss the game.