Run game helps Bills prosper as they try to clinch division
Maybe this time the Buffalo Bills have finally learned their lesson on the importance of running the ballJANUARY 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
EMMANUEL SANDERS
Bills' Emmanuel Sanders out vs. Falcons (Week 17 inactives) The Bills will look to clinch a playoff berth on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
JANUARY 2, 2022 • SYRACUSE.COM
Out for Week 17 Sanders (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Falcons.
Impact Sanders has yet to hit a 100-yard receiving day in his first season as a Bill even though he's a starter, and that will be put on hold for at least one more week. His absence will yield some extra opportunities for Gabriel Davis and Cole Beasley.
JANUARY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Emmanuel Sanders inactive for Bills vs. Falcons ' Week 17 The Bills will be without a starting wide receiver against the Falcons.
JANUARY 2, 2022 • BUFFALOBILLS.COM
Officially inactive against Falcons Sanders (knee) is inactive Week 17 against the Falcons.
Impact Sanders was able to bounce back from a knee injury that cost him Week 15 and even logged 62 offensive snaps against the Patriots in Week 16, but he missed practice both Thursday and Friday of this week. Reports from earlier Sunday morning suggested that he would not be cleared to suit up, and that will be confirmed with the official inactive report. With Sanders sidelined, look for more targets to be headed in the direction of Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis, who will of course presumably trail top wideout Stefon Diggs in the passing game.
JANUARY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Not expected to play Sunday Sanders (knee) isn't expected to play Sunday against the Falcons, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Sanders' status will be officially confirmed upon the posting of the Bills' inactives ahead of Sunday's 1:00 ET kickoff. If he is indeed unavailable, Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis would be in line to head the team's Week 17 wide receiver corps.
JANUARY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Bills list Ed Oliver and Emmanuel Sanders as questionable for Bills vs. Falcons ' Week 17 Sean McDermott announced two players will be questionable for Sunday's game.
DECEMBER 31, 2021 • BUFFALOBILLS.COM
Receives questionable tag Head coach Sean McDermott said Sanders (knee) will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports.
Impact Sanders began the week as a limited participant Wednesday before sitting out sessions Thursday and Friday due to the knee issue. The 34-year-old will face more competition for targets if cleared to play versus Atlanta this weekend, after Cole Beasley (illness) and Gabriel Davis (illness) were reinstated from the reserve/COVID-19 list this week following one-game absences.
DECEMBER 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Logs DNP on Thursday Sanders (knee) didn't practice Thursday.
Impact Sanders was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's walkthrough, so his Thursday 'DNP' makes his status worth monitoring as Sunday's game against the Falcons approaches. Friday's final injury report will reveal whether Sanders heads into the weekend with an injury designation. The Bills' top available wideouts Thursday were Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis.
DECEMBER 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Limited practice Wednesday Sanders (knee) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
Impact Sanders was also limited last Wednesday before returning to a full practice Thursday and being cleared ahead of the Bills' win over the Patriots. In that contest, Sanders logged 65 of a possible 79 snaps on offense and finished with two receptions for 20 yards on four targets. Though Sanders is expected to be ready to go for Sunday's game against the Falcons, he'll face more competition for targets with fellow wideouts Cole Beasley (illness) and Gabriel Davis (illness) both returning from one-game stints on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
DECEMBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Cleared for Week 16 Sanders (knee) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Impact Sanders cleared up most of the concern about the health of his knee by turning in a full practice Thursday, and though he dropped down to limited activity Friday, the Bills characterized it as a "vet rest" day. As such, Sanders is poised to return from a one-game absence, and the Bills could need him to play more than 90 percent of the offensive snaps for just the fourth time all season while fellow wideouts Cole Beasley (illness) and Gabriel Davis (illness) are sidelined after landing on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Stefon Diggs will remain the Bills' clear No. 1 receiver, but the absences of Beasley and Davis should open up more target volume for Sanders, Isaiah McKenzie and Jake Kumerow, and potentially tight end Dawson Knox, too.
DECEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Emmanuel Sanders Fantasy Outlook Climbs With Latest Injury Update and Gabriel Davis COVID News The Buffalo Bills are one of the many teams that COVID-19 has affected over the last week or so. With the Buffalo's offense taking a hit due...
DECEMBER 24, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM
Browns activate QB Mayfield, Colts' Nelson on COVID-19 list
Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield moved a step closer to playing against Aaron Rodgers on ChristmasDECEMBER 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Patriots can regain AFC East throne in rematch vs. Bills
In successive weeks last season the Bills ended the Patriots’ run of 11 consecutive AFC East titles and put a cap on their first season sweep of New England more than a decadeDECEMBER 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
How Emmanuel Sanders & his Bills teammates are giving back this holiday season Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, WR coach Chad Hall and many other Bills did their part to make the holidays special for people in Western New York...
DECEMBER 23, 2021 • BUFFALOBILLS.COM
Practices fully Sanders (knee) practiced fully Thursday.
Impact Sanders, who was inactive last weekend, now is poised to rejoin the lineup Sunday against the Patriots, with his looming return arriving at a timely juncture, given that Cole Beasley (reserve/COVID-19 list) won't be available this weekend. In that context, assuming no issues with his knee, Sanders is a candidate to see his share of Week 16 targets alongside top wideout Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis.
DECEMBER 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Patriots have chance to lock up AFC East title vs. Bills
The second matchup of the season between the Bills and Patriots has huge playoff implicationsDECEMBER 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Listed as limited Sanders (knee) is listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's practice report estimate.
Impact It's not the same as an actual return to practice, as the Bills conducted a walkthrough session Wednesday. Still, this might be interpreted as a step in the right direction after Sanders failed to practice all of last week ahead of his absence from Sunday's blowout win over the Panthers. Second-year wideout Gabriel Davis took full advantage of his extra playing time in the victory, with a 5-85-2 receiving line on seven targets.
DECEMBER 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Participating in walkthrough Coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday that Sanders (knee) will participate in the Bills' walkthrough practice, Chris Brown of the Bills' official site reports.
Impact McDermott said "we'll take it day by day" with regard to Sanders' knee injury. The veteran wideout wasn't able to suit up Week 15 versus Carolina, but it appears that he could have a shot at returning for Sunday's divisional matchup against New England. Sanders has failed to reach the 30-yard receiving mark in his last five appearances.
DECEMBER 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Tyreek Hill among 21 NFL players added to COVID-19 list
Another 21 NFL players were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, including Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, cornerback Rashad Fenton and tight end Blake BellDECEMBER 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bills eager for rematch vs Pats with AFC East on the line
Bills quarterback Josh Allen was already turning his attention to a rematch against the New England Patriots not long after Buffalo snapped a two-game skid by beating CarolinaDECEMBER 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Inactive, as expected Sanders (knee) is inactive Week 15 against the Panthers.
Impact Sanders entered this week with a doubtful tag, so his presence on the inactive list comes as no surprise. With the veteran receiver officially ruled out for the contest, there should be more targets to go around for the likes of Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis.
DECEMBER 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Officially doubtful for Week 15 Sanders (knee) is officially listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Chris Brown of the Bills' official site reports.
Impact Previous reports suggested that Sanders would be out, but the doubtful designation suggests that there's a slight chance that the wideout could suit up this weekend, despite missing practice all week. If he's inactive though, Gabriel Davis figures to see an uptick in Week 15 targets alongside Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley.
DECEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Allen should play for Bills on Sunday vs. Panthers, Emmanuel Sanders ruled out Allen has made progress with foot sprain and is full participant in practice on Friday.
DECEMBER 17, 2021 • SYRACUSE.COM
Bills QB Allen expected to start Sunday against Carolina
Bills quarterback Josh Allen is expected to start Sunday against Carolina after he got hurt last weekend against Tampa BayDECEMBER 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
