Rasul

Douglas

The Bills also declared S Damar Hamlin, CB Rasul Douglas, LB Matt Milano, WR Curtis Samuel, DT DeWayne Carter and T Tylan Grable inactive. The Bills’ defense will be without both starting safeties, its No. 2 perimeter CB and its lynchpin LB. The Patriots’ offense should be able to provide at least a few usable fantasy outings in this one.

The Bills’ defense is fairly banged up at this point. Joining Rapp in the questionable column are S Damar Hamlin, LB Matt Milano, CB Rasul Douglas, LB Baylon Specter and LB Dorian Williams. Depending on the game-day inactive list, the Patriots’ offense could have an easier time than expected.

Douglas, Rapp, and Hamlin comprise three of the four regular starters in the Bills’ secondary, so these are some huge losses going into a game on the road in Detroit. This game was already likely to be a shootout, but the Lions’ pass catchers could all be in for a huge game.

Lions did not practice all week after sustaining a knee injury in the Bills’ Week 14 loss to the Rams. The veteran corner has started in every game for the Bills this season, earning a PFF coverage grade of 59.2 while allowing 36 receptions for 446 yards and three touchdowns on 48 targets. With Douglas sidelined who saw an increased role in last week’s game. In addition to Douglas, the Bills have also said safeties Taylor Rapp (neck/shoulder) and Damar Hamlin (back/ribs), and defensive end Dawuane Smoot (wrist) are all questionable for Week 15.

Douglas left the game with a rib injury late in the third quarter but was able to return before suffering a knee injury on the first drive of the fourth quarter that will likely keep him out for the remainder of the game. Douglas is having a rough afternoon trying to contain Puka Nacua, but he has been good for Buffalo all season and would be a major loss for this secondary if he winds up missing an extended period of time.

The move frees up $2.5 million in cap space for a Buffalo team in desperate need of savings. Douglas was acquired by the Bills at the trade deadline and made an immediate impact. He broke up eight passes and picked off four passes in just nine regular season games with the Bills. Douglas is now entering the final year of his current contract.

Johnson is currently in the concussion protocol but is in its final stages. He has the weekend to clear the protocol and should do so, barring a setback. Fellow cornerback Rasul Douglas, who is dealing with a knee injury, also expressed optimism that he will play. Having both players available would be a big win for the Bills’ defense as they take on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Johnson and Douglas will likely be listed as questionable after practice, but we expect both to suit up.

Douglas, the Bills’ top cornerback, was injured in the first half of Week 18 against the Dolphins and missed the Wild Card Round against the Steelers. Douglas claims that he was ready to play in that game, but the team made the decision to hold him out. Perhaps they felt that another week would make a crucial difference in getting Douglas back on the field, and his ability to practice in some capacity on Wednesday is a good step in that direction. The Bills will need him with fellow corners Taron Johnson and Christian Benford also banged up.

Davis was ruled out well before Monday’s game. There’s a chance he’ll return for next week’s playoff game if the Bills are able to come out with the win, but for now, the Bills will likely pivot to Khalil Shakir to fill the void left by Davis. Frigid temperatures and a snowstorm resulted in this game being pushed to Monday. While snow shouldn’t play a factor here, the temperatures could affect both offenses. Another key absence for the Bills is Rasul Douglas, who didn’t practice all week.

Douglas did not practice at all this week, but the Bills are leaving the light on for him to turn the corner on Saturday or Sunday morning. Acquired from the Packers at the trade deadline, Douglas hit the ground running for the Bills, totaling four interceptions and eight pass breakups in nine games with his new team. Losing him would normally be a big blow to the Buffalo defense, though we don’t expect to see much passing from either team this weekend given the extreme winter storm that’s about to hit Buffalo.