4 Bills starters aren’t practicing Wednesday; will they play Sunday?

Gabe Davis

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis (13) walks off the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)AP

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Orchard Park, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis, linebacker Tyrel Dodson, cornerback Rasul Douglas, and safety Taylor Rapp won’t practice on Wednesday after sustaining injuries in last week’s game against the Miami Dolphins.

Bills coach Sean McDermott said that all four players are considered day-to-day, which means there’s a chance all four could play on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card matchup.

Davis suffered a non-contact injury in the second quarter, reportedly spraining the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his knee. Dodson went out in the first half with a shoulder injury, Rapp has a calf injury, and Douglas injured his knee - but he told reporters after the game that he thought he might be able to go back in and try to play.

The Bills have had a run of health over the past few months since losing linebacker Matt Milano and cornerback Tre’Davious White for the season. Now with potentially four starters who could miss Sunday’s game, the Bills must rely on their depth.

McDermott said the Bills did a good job of rebounding from major injuries earlier in the season.

“Would you like to be a little healthier than that? Yes,” McDermott said. “We’ve been dealing with it quite honestly most of the year and we found a way and we’ll continue to do that.

The Bills held a walk-through practice on Wednesday, which was closed to reporters. Running back Ty Johnson (concussion) and left tackle Dion Dawkins (hand laceration) were both limited on Wednesday.

When Davis left the game against the Dolphins, receiver Trent Sherfield stepped into a larger role for the Bills. He played a season-high 55 snaps and made the catch of the game on the Bills’ first touchdown drive, tracking a pop fly from Josh Allen and keeping both feet in bounds at the back of the end zone.

If Dodson can’t play, expect second-year linebacker Baylon Spector to get the nod after he played 19 snaps in place of Dodson last week. Dane Jackson went in for Douglas and made two tremendous plays - one breaking up a pass on a third down and two making a tackle to save a first down. Rapp suffered the calf injury on the final play of the game when he came down with an interception to end of the Dolphins’ comeback bid.

The Bills host the Steelers on Sunday at 1 p.m.

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