Bills defensive depth may be stretched thin for Broncos playoff game: The latest

ORCHARD PARK - Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott is not ready to make a decision on whether three players currently on injured reserve will be activated to the 53-man roster in time for Saturday’s AFC divisional round playoff game against the Denver Broncos.

Defensive tackle Ed Oliver (biceps), wide receiver Curtis Samuel (elbow), and safety Damar Hamlin (pectoral) all had their 21-day practice windows opened this week, but the Bills had just a walk-through practice Wednesday before a full session Thursday and one still to come Friday afternoon.

Thus far, McDermott has not been able to determine their readiness.

“Nothing yet, we’ll have to see where it goes as we get through today and then tomorrow before we head out to Denver,” he said Friday morning.

All three would be useful additions against the Broncos. Oliver’s potential return would be a nice boost to both the pass rush and run defense from the interior of the line; Samuel could take the spot of one of the two wide receivers the Bills lost to knee injuries last week, Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers; and Hamlin would provide depth at safety plus could play on special teams.

Buffalo Bills injury update: Jordan Poyer, Max Hairston

Safety is certainly a concern but McDermott declared two players out for the game: Safety Jordan Poyer and cornerback Max Hairston.

Tre’Davious White will be relied on to play the entire game with Hairston out, but that’s perfectly fine because White has played really well in the second half of the season and had a huge game in the victory over the Jaguars.

But at safety, rookie Jordan Hancock struggled when he replaced Poyer who re-injured his hamstring in Jacksonville. It was surprising that veteran Cam Lewis wasn’t the replacement, and that might happen against Denver, and Hamlin could be a reserve option as well.

Other players on Bills injury report

The only other player who has not practiced this week is running back Ty Johnson (ankle) and McDermott said, “We’re going to look at him today, very similar to our approach last week and see what he can do.”

Johnson was not able to play last week and it looks like a longshot this week, too, which means Frank Gore Jr. will probably get called up from the practice squad again.

As for linebacker Terrel Bernard (ankle), he has been limited all week and it looks as if he won't be able to play.

Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for more than four decades including 36 years as the full-time beat writer/columnist for the D&C. He has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at [email protected], and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills injury report shows concerns on defense lingering