NY Jets: Injury report ahead of Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills

The NY Jets will be nursing their fair share of injuries in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills.

The NY Jets have run into their fair share of injury misfortune this summer and they’ll be carrying a few of those injuries into their Week 1 opener against the Buffalo Bills.

At the time of writing, four players have already been declared out for Sunday’s game while two others are listed as questionable. That’s significantly more injuries than their opponents this week.

The Bills, contrary to the Jets, have only listed one player as out while just one player has been declared “questionable.” It’s very likely that the Bills will be mostly at full strength on Sunday while the Jets will be anything but.

But after last season’s injury struggles, that’s something the Jets should be used to.

Which players made this week’s injury report for both AFC East squads? Let’s take a look.

NY Jets injuries

• QB Joe Flacco (OUT)
• RB La’Mical Perine (OUT)
• WR Denzel Mims (OUT)
• LB Avery Williamson (OUT)
• OG Alex Lewis (QUESTIONABLE)
• S Marcus Maye (QUESTIONABLE)

The Jets will be without at least four players this Sunday, although only one was projected as a starter — that being linebacker Avery Williamson.

Joe Flacco‘s absence was expected as the veteran quarterback continues to rehab from offseason neck surgery. The Jets hope that Flacco will be back by the end of the month while Mike White was promoted from the practice squad to serve as Sam Darnold’s backup.

The loss of Perine left the Jets with just two healthy running backs which is why they promoted Josh Adams from the practice squad to perhaps spell Le’Veon Bell and Frank Gore.

Mims may not have been a starter on Sunday given his absence from most of training camp, but this setback is still concerning. The 2020 second-round pick injured his other hamstring in practice and could be out a number of weeks.

His status is certainly worth monitoring.

The same goes for Avery Williamson who will miss Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury after being a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice. With just two healthy inside linebackers on the roster, expect to see a heavy dosage of Blake Cashman and Neville Hewitt this weekend.

Marcus Maye is dealing with multiple leg injuries including a calf and ankle ailment, but it does appear as though he’ll be playing. If not, rookie Ashtyn Davis would likely get the call.

As for Alex Lewis, the veteran guard was a limited participant in Wednesday and Thursday’s practices while nursing a shoulder injury, but he returned as a full participant on Friday indicating he should also be good to go.

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Buffalo Bills injuries

• CB Josh Norman (OUT)
• DT Vernon Butler (QUESTIONABLE)

The only player the Bills are expected to be without is veteran cornerback Josh Norman. Norman has been dealing with a hamstring injury and was declared out before being placed on the injured reserve on Saturday.

With Norman out, the Bills will turn to 2019 starter Levi Wallace to take over the No. 2 cornerback job. After a standout rookie season, the former undrafted free agent took a step back in 2019 but still remains a quality starting-caliber player.

Defensive tackle Vernon Butler is also listed as questionable with a hamstring injury, but after being a full participant in both Thursday and Friday’s practice, he is expected to play.

The Jets are clearly more shorthanded on the injury front and given the already-present talent gap between these two teams, that certainly doesn’t bode well for their chances.