The Buffalo Bills are heading into the final two games that will determine whether they head into the playoffs on the road or steal the division back from the New England Patriots, and they’ll be a bit shorthanded for the task.
The Bills already lost one member of their practice squad to a needy AFC team, and learned on Wednesday that they lost another. The Cleveland Browns announced that they signed offensive lineman Kendrick Green to their active roster, poaching him from Buffalo’s practice squad to provide depth in the final two weeks of the season.
Bills Lose Offensive Line Depth
Though Green never took the field this season, he provided some key depth for Buffalo’s offensive line. A former third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021, Green started 17 games at center in his rookie season before switching to guard the next year.
Green switched to guard but fell down the depth chart and was not active in any games the following season, then was traded to the Houston Texans and appeared in four games over the next two seasons.
The Bills had already lost another member of the offense when the Kansas City Chiefs poached quarterback Shane Buechele from the practice squad. The Chiefs lost Patrick Mahomes to a season-ending torn ACL in Week 15, then saw backup Gardner Minshew go down with his own season-ending injury the following week.
Buechele had played an important role on Buffalo’s practice squad, serving as No. 3 while also helping coach starter Josh Allen. Buechele is seen as a specialist when it comes to throwing form, and Allen said the two often worked together.
“The knowledge he has of the game, it’s very beneficial for me,” Allen said. “It’s helpful that he sees the game very similarly to the way that I see the game. We’re able to bounce ideas back and forth and he’s been a huge help in that room.”
Bills Facing Injuries Over Final Stretch
The Bills could use depth for the final two games of the season as they have dealt with a number of injuries. Allen was hurt in last week’s win over the Browns, suffering a foot injury while taking a long sack near the end of the first half.
The Bills quarterback went to the locker room for X-rays but was able to return, though has been playing through pain. Allen missed the team’s walkthrough practice on Tuesday and was limited at practice on Wednesday.
Allen said he wouldn’t be in danger of missing Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, though he did expect to be playing through some discomfort.
“Feels good. Feels good,” Allen said, via ESPN. “Ready to go.”
Allen wasn’t too worried after missing the Tuesday walkthrough.
“I mean, still sore,” Allen said. “Walk-through today, so really not practice in general. So yeah … feeling good.”
The Bills have already clinched a playoff spot, but have a chance to seize the division if they win one more game than the Patriots over the final two games.
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