The Buffalo Bills' receiving situation grew even more dire on Friday.
Gabe Davis joined teammate Cole Beasley on the reserve/COVID-19 list, coach Sean McDermott announced. Davis, who is unvaccinated, tested positive for COVID-19, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.
Offensive lineman Cody Ford is also headed to the reserve/COVID-19 list, per McDermott.
The timing of Davis' placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list makes a return in time for Sunday's key game against the New England Patriots impossible and a return for next week's clash with the Atlanta Falcons unlikely. Because Davis tested positive and is unvaccinated, he is subject to a 10-day mandatory quarantine.
Beasley landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday and will also miss Sunday's game as part of his 10-day isolation period.
Davis has been a frequent contributor in the second half of the Bills' 2021 season, catching two or more passes in every game from Weeks 10-15. Buffalo attempted 30 passes in its first meeting with New England, and Davis saw four targets on a windy night in Orchard Park, New York.
The Bills will have to find a way to replace Davis' contributions in a receiving corps that -- thankfully for Buffalo -- still includes Stefon Diggs and Emmanuel Sanders.
Sanders (knee) does not carry injury designation after missing Week 15. Defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (personal) is listed as questionable.
Injuries/COVID-19
- The Atlanta Falcons listed receiver Tajae Sharpe (foot) as doubtful for Sunday's game versus the Lions.
- Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley missed practice with a non-COVID illness, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Huntley is still expected to start against the Bengals, per NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala. Huntley and Lamar Jackson (ankle) are both listed as questionable to play against Cincinnati. Jackson has not practiced all week. Also questionable to play are defensive tackle Calais Campbell (thigh), offensive lineman Patrick Mekari (hand), pass rusher Odafe Oweh (illness) and fullback Patrick Ricard (knee). Meanwhile, receiver Devin Duvernay (ankle) and OL Tyre Phillips (knee) are doubtful and guard Ben Powers (foot) is out. Safety Chuck Clark and OL Trystan Colon-Castillo were activated from the COVID list.
- Carolina Panthers receiver DJ Moore (hamstring) and offensive tackle Cameron Erving (calf) are questionable for Week 16. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore (knee) does not have an injury designation.
- The Chicago Bears activated defensive tackle Bilal Nichols from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Quarterback Justin Fields (ankle) did not practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday; QB Andy Dalton (hand/groin) will not play. Third-stringer Nick Foles will start against Seattle, coach Matt Nagy told reporters.
- The Cleveland Browns activated quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum, as well as receiver Jarvis Landry, from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
- The Cincinnati Bengals placed receiver Mike Thomas on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Linebacker Logan Wilson (shoulder) was ruled out against Baltimore.
- The Dallas Cowboys placed cornerback Jourdan Lewis and receiver Simi Fehoko on the COVID list. Offensive tackle Tyron Smith (ankle) will not play against Washington.
- Denver Broncos linebacker Kenny Young (concussion) will not play against the Raiders. Safety Kareem Jackson (back) and LB Baron Browning (illness) are questionable.
- Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said it's "very unlikely" quarterback Jared Goff plays Sunday. Goff was placed on the COVID list Monday. Running back D'Andre Swift, who has missed the last three games with a shoulder injury, is questionable for Sunday. Receiver Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond (shoulder) are also questionable.
- The Green Bay Packers activated pass rusher Kenny Clark from the reserve/COVID-19 list, and placed LB Chauncey Rivers on the list. Receiver Malik Taylor and LB Ty Summers were placed on IR.
- Houston Texans running back David Johnson is questionable for Sunday after not practicing all week with a quad injury.
- The Indianapolis Colts placed guard Quenton Nelson on the reserve/COVID-19 list,
- Jacksonville Jaguars pass rusher Josh Allen tested positive for COVID-19 and will be placed on the reserve list, per Rapoport. The Jags later placed Allen, receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. and offensive linemen Ben Bartch on the list.
- The Kansas City Chiefs are activating tight end Blake Bell from the reserve/COVID list, per Rapoport.
- Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. cleared concussion protocol and is expected to start Sunday, per NFL Network's Taylor Bisciotti. Safety Derwin James (hamstring) is questionable; James logged a limited practice after missing the previous two sessions. Defensive tackle Justin Jones was placed on COVID list.
- The Los Angeles Rams activated tight end Tyler Higbee and defensive back Jordan Fuller from the reserve/COVID-19 list, and designated running back Buddy Howell for return from IR.
- The Minnesota Vikings placed center Mason Cole (elbow) on injured reserve. Receiver Adam Thielen (ankle) and fullback C.J. Ham (hamstring) are questionable for Sunday.
- The New England Patriots ruled receiver Nelson Agholor (concussion) and running back Rhamondre Stevenson (illness) out for Week 16. Stevenson was subsequently placed on the COVID list, per Rapoport. Kicker Nick Folk (knee), WR N'Keal Harry (hip) and RBs Damien Harris (hamstring) and Brandon Bolden (knee) were among the team's eight questionable designations.
- The New York Giants activated defensive back J.R. Reed and linebacker Oshane Ximines from the COVID list. Practice squad center Jonotthan Harrison was placed on the list. Reed, Ximines and receiver Kadarius Toney (oblique/COVID ramp-up) are questionable.
- The New Orleans Saints placed linebacker Demario Davis, offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk, running back Dwayne Washington and safety J.T. Gray on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
- The New York Jets activated cornerback Justin Hardee and receiver Jeff Smith from the reserve/COVID list. Linebacker C.J. Mosley (back) and defensive linemen Quinnen Williams (shoulder) and Sheldon Rankins (knee) are questionable for Sunday. Wideout Jamison Crowder (calf) is doubtful.
- The Philadelphia Eagles activated center Landon Dickerson from the COVID list.
- The Pittsburgh Steelers activated defensive tackle Montravius Adams from the COVID list.
- The Seattle Seahawks actvated running back Travis Homer from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ruled receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot) out for Sunday's game against the Panthers, per coach Bruce Arians. Cornerback Rashard Robinson and receiver Justin Watson were activated from the COVID list.
- The Tennessee Titans placed offensive tackle Taylor Lewan on the reserve/COVID-19. Receiver Dez Fitzpatrick and practice squad defensive back Jamal Carter were activated from the list.
- The Washington Football Team activated quarterback Kyle Allen, safety Kamren Curl, linebacker Milo Eifler and cornerback Kendall Fuller from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Running back Antonio Gibson (toe) and receiver Curtis Samuel (hamstring) questionable for Sunday. Safety Landon Collins (foot), defensive end Daniel Wise (knee) and cornerback William Jackson III (calf) are out. Collins and Wise were placed on IR. Five assistant coaches will miss Sunday's game due to COVID-19 protocols: defensive backs coach Chris Harris, senior offensive assistant Jim Hostler, assistant defensive backs/nickel coach Brent Vieselmeyer, defensive quality control coach Vincent Rivera, defensive coaching intern Cristian Garcia.
Roster Moves
- The Buffalo Bills signed punter Jamie Gillan and receiver Austin Proehl to their practice squad. Gillan was waived by the Browns on Wednesday. Offensive tackle Bobby Hart and WR Isaiah Hodgins were elevated to the active roster.
- The Green Bay Packers elevated offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen to the active roster.
- The Miami Dolphins elevated receiver Tommylee Lewis and center Cameron Tom to the active roster.
- The New Orleans Saints are signing quarterback Blake Bortles, Rapoport reported.
