The Buffalo Bills are forced to take the AFC’s hardest road to a potential Super Bowl berth. It started last Sunday with a trip to Duval to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had not lost in over two months, and will continue Saturday afternoon with the first game of the Division Round on the road in Denver to play the No. 1 seed Broncos.
The Bills are in luck, however, as their very beat-up depth chart will be getting a boost from two veterans returning from the injured reserve.
“The Bills activated WR Curtis Samuel and DT Ed Oliver from Injured Reserve in advance of their game against the Broncos,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported.
Both players have been activated to the 53-man roster, but continue to carry a questionable designation with reporters saying they are expected to play.
Ed Oliver Returns From Bicep Injury
Oliver is in his seventh season with the Bills. However, he has appeared in just three games this season after playing an average of more than 15 games per year in his previous six years.
He played in the first game of the season, recording six tackles and a sack in the win over the Baltimore Ravens. After that, he was not active again until October 13th.
He played in the Week 6 game against the Atlanta Falcons and the Week 8 game against the Carolina Panthers, with a bye week in between.
He was injured during the win over the Panthers and has not returned to the field since.
The 28-year-old has recorded a sack in every single game he has played this season and would be a huge addition for a defensive line that has been forced to turn to rookies late in the year.
Curtis Samuel Needs To Play
If Samuel is unable to play, the Bills will enter Sunday’s game with three receivers on the roster.
Wide receivers Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers were both sent to the injured reserve after last Sunday’s playoff win. They joined Joshua Palmer on the injury wire.
This leaves just Brandin Cooks, Keon Coleman, and Khalil Shakir as the healthy wideouts.
Things have not worked out well for the receiver who has just seven catches in six games this season, but simply put, the Bills need bodies.
Samuel is dealing with a neck and an elbow injury but is expected to play Sunday.
Bills Activate 2 Veterans Off IR, Will Play Saturday