Team news: Buffalo Bills | Page 1

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley missed practice on Thursday.

Beasley remains sidelined at practice and is expected to miss Week 17's contest against the Miami Dolphins. The Bills will be hoping to get John Brown back for Week 17's contest, or they may be forced to start rookie Gabriel Davis and Andre Roberts beside Stefon Diggs. Diggs should get all the work he can handle but it would be nice to have Brown active to keep the defense from constantly putting bracket coverage on the Bills star receiver. At this point, Beasley is week-to-week, which means he may be in danger of missing the Bills wildcard round matchup as well. Diggs is our fifth ranked receiver for Week 17.

In Buffalo, Sean McDermott is holding his cards close to the vest. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday afternoon, McDermott indicated he knows what he’s going to do for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins [as far as resting starters]. But he’s not saying.

“I’m going to keep that plan internal because I think that’s what’s best for us,” McDermott said, via Chris Brown of the Bills’ official website.

Related players: Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs

The Chiefs clinched the top seed and will rest some starters while the Steelers announced Ben Roethlisberger won't play in Week 17. The Bills are currently the AFC’s No. 2 seed, though they could fall to No. 3 if the Steelers beat the Browns and Buffalo loses to Miami.

Bills HC Sean McDermott said WR Cole Beasley is "week-to-week."

Related players: Gabriel Davis, John Brown, Isaiah McKenzie

Beasley looked like he was trying to plant his left foot at the end of a route, but his leg looked to give out. He was able to walk off the field, but the injury designation may mean Beasley’s status for the wildcard playoff game in two weeks could be in a question. Just a week ago, the Bills were looking pretty stacked at WR with Brown scheduled to come back, but Brown was placed on the COVID list and with Beasley's status in question, it means Stefon Diggs and Davis could be the team's top-two WRs. McKenzie could see increased time in Week 17 at least.

Bills have activated WR John Brown from IR, but have put Brown, practice squad S Josh Thomas and RB Christian Wade on Res/COVID list.

The above players have been defined as close contacts with RB T.J. Yeldon, who was placed on Res/COVID list Sunday. Brown was reportedly close a return this week, but will now need to test negative in order to go Week 17. It's possible the Bills just holds out Brown until the first week of the playoffs, especially if there is nothing to play for in Week 17.

Sean McDermott on Stefon Diggs' foot injury from the Broncos game: "The reports I've gotten are not overly worrisome."

Related players: John Brown, Cole Beasley, Gabriel Davis, Isaiah McKenzie

He may not be worried but what about fantasy owners? Those who own Diggs may have to wait until Wednesday to get a better of idea of just how serious or not serious Diggs' foot injury is. It's definitely worth monitoring for owners and it may not hurt to come up with a backup plan if this is your finals week. Brown has been designated for return so it's possible he could come back. But if Diggs and Brown would happen to miss Week 16, the Bills would roll with Beasley, Davis and McKenzie as their top-three.

The Bills designated receiver John Brown to return from injured reserve Tuesday, according to the NFL’s transactions report.

Related players: Gabriel Davis, Josh Allen

Bills coach Sean McDermott said Monday that Brown was ready to return to practice this week. The move opens a 21-day window for the team to activate Brown back to the active roster, the story said. Davis has filled in nicely with Brown out, but adding Brown for games down the stretch should give a little boost to Allen's fantasy value.