COLE BEASLEY NEWS

Why unleashing Josh Allen is key to Buffalo Bills' being Super Bowl contenders

Step one in Bucky Brooks' plan to maximize Buffalo's Super Bowl chances is to unleash playmaking QB Josh Allen.

DECEMBER 16, 2021

Allen's uncertain status clouds Bills' playoff chances

Quarterback Josh Allen's status is uncertain with coach Sean McDermott announcing the Buffalo Bills starter has a sprained foot

DECEMBER 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bounces back with nine grabs Beasley brought in nine of 11 targets for 64 yards in the Bills' 33-27 overtime loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Impact Beasley's catch total led the Bills and was an especially welcome sight after the reliable veteran was held to one catch against the Patriots in the Week 13 Monday night loss. Beasley's yardage total was also his best since Week 8, as the 32-year-old hadn't eclipsed 46 receiving yards since that season-best 110-yard showing against the Dolphins until Sunday. Beasley will look to deliver another timely effort for managers in their fantasy postseason contests during a Week 15 home battle versus the Panthers. It's also worth noting that teammate Emmanuel Sanders left Sunday's game early with a knee injury, which slightly opened things up for other players. Beasley managers will want to keep an eye on Sanders' health this week.

DECEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bills appear in denial as playoff hopes begin to sink

The Buffalo Bills appear to be in denial identifying their shortcomings and the challenges ahead in staying afloat in the AFC playoff picture

DECEMBER 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Poor game in poor conditions Beasley caught one of three targets for 11 yards in Monday's 14-10 loss to the Patriots.

Impact Quarterback Josh Allen only completed 15 passes in the game, and that might be considered an accomplishment given the terrible weather and the fact that opposing QB Mac Jones only completed two throws. Beasley was open a few times in key moments, but between the howling wind and Josh Allen either not finding him or being able to make a good throw, Beasley was limited to his second worst output of the season. Expect a more productive performance from the entire Buffalo offense in the Week 14 matchup with the Buccaneers, a game that could turn into a high-scoring affair.

DECEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Five grabs in Thanksgiving win Beasley brought in all five targets for 46 yards in the Bills' 31-6 win over the Saints on Thursday night.

Impact Beasley checked in second behind Stefon Diggs in receptions for the night, bouncing back to an extent from a trio of sub-par games where he'd failed to top 33 yards. Beasley is still capped by his typical short-area role, but the limitations are especially pronounced this season due to a figure of 6.7 yards per target that qualifies as his lowest figure in that category since 2017. His next opportunity to build up his yardage numbers comes in a Week 13 divisional clash with the Patriots on Monday night, Dec. 6.

NOVEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bills aim to snap series skid vs. Saints on Thanksgiving

The Buffalo Bills are trying to snap a streak of five losses dating back to the late-1990s against the New Orleans Saints

NOVEMBER 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cleared for Thanksgiving Day Beasley (ribs) doesn't carry an injury designation into Thursday's game against the Saints.

Impact On a short week, Beasley was listed as limited for Monday and Tuesday's practice reports before upgrading to full Wednesday. Minus a Week 12 injury tag, Beasley will continue to play through the rib issue he's been managing in recent games. After logging just nine snaps in a Week 10 win over the Jets, he was on the field for 32 snaps in Sunday's blowout loss to the Colts, finishing with four receptions for 23 yards on five targets. Barring any in-game setbacks, Beasley should see his share of targets out of the slot Thursday while facing a New Orleans defense that has allowed an average of 252.2 passing yards per game this season.

NOVEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Limited in practice after all Updating a previous report, Beasley (ribs) will be a limited participant rather than a full one in Tuesday's practice, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Though head coach Sean McDermott said earlier Tuesday that Beasley would take full reps in the team's main practice session ahead of a Thanksgiving Day game against the Saints, the veteran slot man was spotted on the field donning a red no-contact jersey, which implies that he'll be in line for limited work. Regardless, Beasley still looks on track to play Thursday, and he could see a more sizable role on offense now that his injury is further in the rear-view mirror. After he was capped at just 16 percent of the offensive snaps in the Bills' Week 10 blowout win over the Jets, Beasley upped his play count to 57 percent in the team's 41-15 loss to the Colts in Week 11.

NOVEMBER 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Regular practice ahead Head coach Sean McDermott said Beasley (ribs) will practice fully Tuesday ahead of the team's Thanksgiving Day game against the Saints, Chris Brown of the Bills' official site repo...

Impact While Beasley is thus on track to play Thursday, he's clearly been limited in recent weeks, frequently sitting out plays he would normally be on the field for. A full practice should give managers a little more confidence that he'll be slightly less of an injury risk during the team's shortened week.

NOVEMBER 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bills face difficult three-game stretch in midst of slump

If the Buffalo Bills’ season wasn’t in crisis after losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars, it certainly is now

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Still bothered by rib injury Beasley (ribs) was a limited participant during Monday's walkthrough practice.

Impact Beasley has been a fixture on Buffalo injury reports throughout November due to the rib issue, but he has yet to miss a game because of it. Even so, the Bills clearly have been managing his reps both in practices and in games the past two weeks. After playing just 16 percent of the offensive snaps in a Week 11 win over the Jets, Beasley bumped up to 57 percent of the snaps -- still below his usual level -- and finished with four receptions for 23 yards on five targets in Sunday's 41-15 loss to the Colts. The rib injury likely won't prevent him from playing Thanksgiving Day against the Saints, but expect Beasley to continue to receive extra maintenance in practice on a short week.

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Cleared for Week 11 contest Beasley (ribs) was a limited participant in Friday's practice and doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Colts.

Impact According to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic, Beasley didn't take any contact in Friday's practice while he contends with the rib injury, but the Bills saw enough from the veteran slot man to give him the green light for the Week 11 contest. While he'll suit up Sunday, Beasley's workload could be managed to some degree, though likely not to the extent it was last week against the Jets. Beasley reeled in both of his targets for 15 yards on just nine snaps in the 45-17 win, with head coach Sean McDermott later noting that the Bills' comfortable margin of victory allowed the team to take it easy on the wideout while he was at less than 100 percent due to the injury.

NOVEMBER 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to limited practice Beasley (ribs) was listed as a limited practice participant Thursday.

Impact Beasley's return to the field Thursday indicates that his absence from Wednesday's practice was maintenance-related rather than indicative of a setback with the rib injury he has been managing. Friday's injury report will reveal whether Buffalo's slot man approaches Sunday's game against the Colts with an injury designation or fully cleared for Week 11 action.

NOVEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Spotted at practice Thursday Beasley (ribs) was present for Thursday's practice, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Impact It remains to be seen how the Bills list Beasley's participation level, but a limited session would imply that the slot man's absence from Wednesday's practice was maintenance-related. While working through his rib issue in Week 10, Beasley was limited to just nine snaps in this past Sunday's 45-17 win over the Jets.

NOVEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sidelined Wednesday Beasley (ribs) didn't practice Wednesday, Chris Brown of the Bills' official site reports.

Impact Beasley was limited to just nine snaps in this past Sunday's 45-17 blowout win over the Jets, with coach Sean McDermott noting afterward that the team was "trying to get (the wide receiver) through that game," per Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com. With that in mind, it's not surprising that Beasley was held out of Wednesday's practice. As long as he returns to practice in capacity Thursday, we'd expect the Bills' slot man to suit up this weekend against the Colts.

NOVEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Still muddling through rib pain Although he played in Sunday's 45-17 win over the Jets, Beasley (ribs) only played nine offensive snaps (two catches for 15 yards), and coach Sean McDermott noted Monday that the t...

Impact That sounds like coach speak for the team not really needing to push it with the chain-moving Beasley in a blowout win against a weak opponent. Although Beasley didn't have an injury designation coming into the game, he's missed some practice time ever since taking a shot in a win against Miami on Halloween. Beasley did catch eight balls in last week's much closer loss to the Jaguars, so it looks like the team will be simply managing his reps (especially in practices) until he's further past the injury.

NOVEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

How the Bills got their groove back on offense: 7 observations from a big win over the Jets The Josh Allen-Stefon Diggs connection is clicking, Emmanuel Sanders might need a break and Cole Beasley is banged up.

NOVEMBER 15, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Clear for Sunday Beasley (ribs) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's road game versus the Jets.

Impact Beasley played through his rib injury last Sunday in Jacksonville after logging just one limited session, so managing a pair this week Thursday and Friday was enough for the Bills to clear him for game action. He's thus available to face a Jets defense that has yielded 8.5 yards per target (11th most in the NFL) to wide receivers this season.

NOVEMBER 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Back at practice Beasley (ribs) was listed as a limited practice participant Thursday, Chris Brown of the Bills' official site reports.

Impact Beasley didn't practice Wednesday, but his return to a limited session Thursday suggests that his absence was more of a veteran rest scenario than an indication that he's suffered any setbacks with a rib issue that he played through last weekend versus the Jaguars. That said, he'll presumably need to practice fully Friday in order to head into Sunday's contest against the Jets minus a Week 10 injury designation.

NOVEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bills, Allen hoping to get back on track vs. White-led Jets

The Buffalo Bills are looking to bounce back after a dreadful loss at Jacksonville last weekend

NOVEMBER 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sits out practice Beasley (ribs) didn't practice Wednesday.

Impact Per Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site, coach Sean McDermott previously suggested that Beasley's absence Wednesday would be considered a veteran rest day. The wide receiver headed into Week 9 action listed as questionable, but he played through his rib issue in the 9-6 loss to the Jaguars while playing 45 of a possible 67 snaps on offense and catching eight of his 11 targets for 33 yards. Assuming Beasley returns to practice Thursday, he'll be on track to play this weekend against the Jets.

NOVEMBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Plays through rib injury Beasley (ribs) caught eight passes for 33 yards on 11 targets against Jacksonville on Sunday.

Impact Between the rib injury and the pass-blocking struggles of the Buffalo offense, a lot was working against Beasley in what should have been one of his most favorable matchups of the season. Beasley's usage was highly inefficient, which is precisely the opposite of what he has been in the vast majority of his Buffalo career. The Bills have another fine matchup against the Jets in Week 10, and hopefully the results will be better than they were against the Jaguars.

NOVEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE