ORCHARD PARK — Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard left last week’s game against the New York Jets with a quad injury and he isn’t practicing on Wednesday.
Bills coach Sean McDermott ruled Bernard out for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the New England Patriots.
How serious is the injury?
“I really don’t know if he was healthy enough, would he be able to go (against New England)? Possibly,” McDermott said before the Bills’ Wednesday walkthrough practice. “So it’s probably somewhere between day-to-day and week-to-week. More like day-to-day. That’s just non-medical in this case, for me.”
The timing for Bernard’s injury couldn’t be worse, with the playoffs set to begin next week. The 25-year-old middle linebacker missed last season’s divisional-round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs with an ankle injury.
With Bernard out this Sunday, the Bills (13-3) are planning to start undrafted rookie Joe Andreessen, who entered last week’s game against the Jets when Bernard was injured.
Andreesen had a preseason breakout against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who played their starters for most of the first half. The former University at Buffalo standout finished with a game-high 12 tackles, including two tackles for a loss.
The Bills are getting healthier at the safety position. Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin, and Cam Lewis all participated in practice on Wednesday but were limited. Hamlin missed last week’s game against the Jets, and McDermott said on Monday that he expects Hamlin to be back for the Patriots and to get some run on Sunday.
So if Hamlin returns on Sunday, what does that mean for rookie safety Cole Bishop?
Bishop has played the last three games with Rapp and Hamlin, who were battling injuries. He’s played 183 snaps against the Detroit Lions, Patriots, and Jets, and his play has improved every game. McDermott was asked whether Bishop’s strong play earned him a more significant role once Hamlin returns and he said, “We’ll see.”
“I’ve been very, very pleased with his improvement,” McDermott said. “Just this morning, I was close to him in the meeting and he’s there taking good notes, he’s on his laptop or whatever you call it these days, iPads. And he’s diligently taking notes, and that’s part of the process that leads to what happens on game days. Over the last three games, that’s what we’ve seen.”
The Bills signed veteran All Pro safety Micah Hyde to their practice squad last month and many fans expected him to figure into the team’s plans at safety eventually. But McDermott has consistently poured ice on the idea of Hyde playing. McDermott said on Monday that Hyde won’t be elevated in the regular season finale against the Patriots.
Instead, Hyde has been working closely with Bishop since returning to Buffalo. He’s basically been a player-coach. Bishop has had 18 tackles (1 tackle for a loss) in the three games since he’s been in at safety.
If Hamlin is ready to go for the playoffs, the expectation is that he’d start alongside Rapp for the Bills. But Bishop’s athleticism and tackling ability will likely be factored in by McDermott and the defensive coaches. The rookie could at least find a part-time role to get him on the field, especially on early downs.
Will Patriots try to lose to Buffalo to secure the No. 1 pick?
FOXBOROUGH – The Patriots have an incentive to lose.
With one game left, the franchise could secure the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. After the New York Giants upset Indianapolis last weekend, the Patriots vaulted ‘up’ to the top slot in next year’s draft.
Due to their strength of schedule, Jerod Mayo’s team would keep that No. 1 pick with a loss on Sunday to the Buffalo Bills – a team that will likely rest most of their starters.
While speaking on Wednesday, Mayo said he hasn’t spoken with Patriots ownership or anyone in the front office about potentially sitting certain players out.
“Look, I’m in constant communication with Eliot. I’m in constant communication with ownership,” Mayo said. “Again, I’ve never been a part of a team, as a player or a coach, where we haven’t gone out there and tried to win the game. So those conversations haven’t happened.”
One way to decrease their odds of winning would be to make a move at quarterback. Mayo could theoretically start backup Jacoby Brissett or Joe Milton III on Sunday. That could claim that sitting Maye was due to health reasons after the rookie took a hit to the helmet last weekend against Los Angeles. Maye briefly left the game before passing the NFL concussion protocol tests.
On Monday, Mayo said all possibilities were on the table when asked about potentially sitting Drake Maye for this regular-season finale. On Wednesday, however, the Patriots coach said that the team won’t sit the No. 3 pick – if he’s healthy to play.
“Drake is our starting quarterback,” Maye said. “If he’s healthy and ready to go, as we go through this week of practice, then he’ll play.”
Maye was present at Wednesday’s practice and even said that he was healthy.
“I feel great,” Maye said. “I woke up feeling good, thank the good Lord. It’s another day to get out here, and I’m looking forward to getting out there Sunday.”
If the Patriots lock up the No. 1 overall pick, it sets them up better for the future. The team would have the option of drafting the top available player such as cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter. They could also trade down to accumulate more assets.
In the end, Mayo said it’s never been in his DNA to try and lose a game.
“My message to the guys was we want to finish off the season strong and try to build some momentum going into the offseason,” Mayo said. “I would say the guys are ready to go. We’ll see how practice goes today. Obviously, I’m sure the question will come up, ‘Do you want to see certain players?’ Absolutely. I would say if players are healthy, they’ll be ready to go. As far as how much they play, how much they don’t, I’ve never been a part of a team, as a player or as a coach, going into a game not wanting to win. It’s not going to change today, so that’s my message to the team.”
