Football is a brutal sport, which means every team has to navigate injuries throughout the year. Entering Week 6 of the season, most teams’ injury reports are already lengthy, but that doesn’t mean the listed guys are actually at risk of missing action.
The Las Vegas Raiders will play the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, and Buffalo had 15 players on its first injury report of the week. However, based on their Wednesday practice status, only two players’ availability for Sunday’s game really seem to be in jeopardy. Unfortunately for the Bills, they are two key players.
Those players are wide receiver DJ Moore and defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who were the only two players to miss practice Wednesday.
DJ Moore and Ed Oliver highlight Bills’ injury report ahead of game vs. Raiders
Of the 15 players listed, eight players had full practices, five were limited, and only Moore and Oliver did not practice. With two more days of practice before Sunday’s games, their statuses will be important to monitor.
Both Moore and Oliver missed Buffalo’s Week 5 game against the Los Angeles Rams — Moore because of a shoulder injury and Oliver due to a knee issue. Still, the Bills were able to get an overtime win over Los Angeles, but there’s no denying that both veteran players are important to Buffalo.
The Bills traded for Moore this offseason for him to be the team’s No. 1 receiver, and he posted 12 receptions for 178 yards and a touchdown through the first four games. Oliver, on the other side of the ball, has been the man in the middle of Buffalo’s defensive line for eight years now. He has nine tackles and a half a sack in his three games this season.
Buffalo is certainly capable of winning without them, but the Bills would definitely love to have them for the game against Las Vegas, that has its own injury concerns.
Raiders could be with a couple of starters in Week 6
Las Vegas’ first injury report of the week was also lengthy, but like Buffalo’s, many of the guys actually practiced. 12 guys were listed, but six players had full practices, four were limited, and only two did not practice. Notably, running back Ashton Jeanty had a full practice, but tight end Brock Bowers was limited.
The two players who didn’t practice were defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway and wide receiver Jalen Nailor, who are both in concussion protocol. Hemingway suffered his concussion in Week 5, so he’d have to clear protocol in a week to play.
Nailor, on the other hand, sustained his concussion in Week 4, and head coach Klint Kubiak said the team expects to see him back on the practice field this week, so he’ll have a chance to clear protocol by Sunday.
Time will tell who’s ultimately available on Sunday, but whoever is suiting up must be ready to go, as the Raiders will try to end this two-game skid, facing off against a really good Bills team.
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