The Bills will be without wide receiver Cole Beasley for Sunday's rematch against the New England Patriots, but coach Sean McDermott isn't one to dwell on who won't be playing. He was already looking ahead to adjustments his team will need to make.
Beasley reportedly tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday, meaning he will miss at least 10 days because he is unvaccinated.
McDermott again said that he respected the personal choice made by players, but declined to delve into much more on the subject, or to say if there is any level of disappointment in losing Beasley for the divisional showdown, when asked Wednesday.
"I'm not going to get into that," McDermott said. "I'm focused on the Patriots, and the guys in the building. And certainly with all the guys we have out on Covid – I think seven, Cole being one of those – we want them back as healthy as possible and as quickly as possible. That's where we're at."
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Though Beasley will miss Sunday's game, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders could return. He was a limited participant in Wednesday's walk-through. Sanders left the Week 14 game against Tampa Bay with a knee injury and did not practice last week.
"We'll just see how it goes, and taking it just one day at a time here, starting today," McDermott said ahead of the walk-through.
Sanders has 40 catches for 606 receiving yards and four touchdowns this season. His output has declined the last five games he’s played in, but quarterback Josh Allen still hopes to see him out there Sunday.
“I think it would be a big boost for us, just given his talent level, his knowledge, and the juice and the knowledge that he brings,” Allen said. “So whether he’s ready to go or not, not up to me, but we’ll see. I want him out on the field with us.”
Sanders’ status looms particularly large with Beasley out. Beasley’s 640 receiving yards and 76 catches this season are both second on the Bills, behind wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Beasley put up those numbers while playing through a rib injury that minimized his role midseason.
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The Bills have five players from the active roster and three from the practice squad on the Reserve/Covid-19 list: Beasley; offensive linemen Jon Feliciano, Dion Dawkins and Bobby Hart; linebacker Tyrel Dodson, defensive ends A.J. Epenesa and Mike Love, and tight end Quintin Morris. Morris, Hart and Love are on the practice squad. Morris was placed on the list Wednesday, a few hours after McDermott noted seven on the list.
The Bills have had at least one player on the Covid list since Nov. 2, but the protocols have changed since then.
Beasley posted on Instagram that he was experiencing mild symptoms, but wrote he is missing the game because of the rules, not because of the virus.
The NFL updated its protocols last week, making it easier for vaccinated players to return more quickly but continuing daily testing for unvaccinated players and a mandatory 10-day period before they can return. Vaccinated players can test out of Covid protocols once they are asymptomatic for at least 24 hours.
While Beasley has been outspoken about the vaccine and his views on Covid protocols multiple times starting in the summer, Allen did not weigh in when asked his views on the new rules.
“I mean, that’s really not my place to speak on that,” Allen said. “I’m just trying to be the best quarterback I can be, be the best teammate I can be for this team, and try to go win a game on Sunday.”
Allen echoed McDermott’s answers that even with a key player out ahead of a huge game, the Bills’ focus is now just on what they can do at practice.
"Those are the things we can't control," McDermott said. "And I think we just need to focus on what we can and that's going out to practice in a few minutes and continuing to improve our football team."
Injury report
Josh Allen was a full participant in the walkthrough. Last week, he was limited Wednesday and Thursday because of a sprained left foot, before he was a full participant Friday and started Sunday’s game. Allen said there was nothing lingering from the injury in the Tampa Bay game.
“No. Good to go,” he said Wednesday.
Sanders (knee) was limited and running back Taiwan Jones (knee) did not participate.
Safety Micah Hyde (back) and defensive end Jerry Hughes (neck) were limited Wednesday, each with new injuries. Hughes was dealing with a foot injury last week, but was good to go for the game against the Panthers, playing 53% of snaps on defense.
Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor (concussion) and running back Rhamondre Stevenson (illness) did not practice Wednesday.
Nine players were limited: center David Andrews (shoulder), defensive lineman Christian Barmore (knee), linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (ribs/ankle), running back Brandon Bolden (knee), kicker Nick Folk (left knee), running back Damien Harris (hamstring), wide receiver N’Keal Harry (hip), safety Adrian Phillips (knee) and wide receiver/specialist Matthew Slater (illness).
