The Buffalo Bills learned on Wednesday that Josh Allen is all set to start at quarterback for their playoff opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But not all the injury news is good news.
Head coach Sean McDermott informed reporters Wednesday that five key players won't be taking part in the walkthrough:
- LB Terrel Bernard
- CB Maxwell Hairston
- K Matt Prater
- RB Ty Johnson
- LB Matt Milano
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McDermott clarified that Milano is out with an illness, so he should get back out there later this week.
Prater is a major question mark. He re-aggravated his quad injury in Week 18. The Bills signed Matthew Wright as kicker insurance if Prater can't go against the Jaguars.
Hairston got hurt late in the Bills' Week 18 win over the Jets, at a time when some fans questioned why he was still in the game. If Buffalo doesn't have him, an already thin cornerback group gets thinner.
Bernard has battled injury all season, but he's the captain of the Bills' defense when healthy, and Buffalo would obviously love him out there to contend with the Trevor Lawrence-led Jacksonville offense.
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Johnson hadn't been known to have an injury, so he'll be worth tracking on the injury report as the week goes on. He's a key third-down option for Buffalo at running back.
The Bills play the Jags on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, so this will progress as a mostly normal practice week for Buffalo.
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