The Buffalo Bills defense could use a break. It has allowed 101 points and 1,357 yards over the last three games. The secondary has played without three starters two straight weeks.
Head coach Sean McDermott could choose to rest some starters over the final two games.
Buffalo (12-3) will know more about its playoff seeding before it hosts the Jets (4-11) at 1 p.m. Sunday. The Bills could clinch the No. 2 seed in the AFC and be out of contention for the No. 1 seed if the Pittsburgh Steelers lose to the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens lose to the Houston Texans. Both of those games are on Christmas Day, four days prior to Buffalo's game.
"We're in the mode of taking it one day at a time," McDermott said Monday when asked if he plans to sit starters down the stretch. McDermott said he's know more later in the week.
Starting safeties Taylor Rapp (neck/shoulder) and Damar Hamlin (ribs) and starting cornerback Rasul Douglas (knee) have missed two games in a row. Buffalo played minus starting linebacker Matt Milano (groin) in Week 16. All four players entered the 24-21 victory over the New England Patriots as questionable.
"A lot of these guys are getting better that were out yesterday," McDermott said Monday. "We'll see how they do throughout the week."
Three other Buffalo defensive players left against New England - linebackers Baylon Spector and Terrel Bernard and cornerback Taron Johnson - but Spector was the only one who didn't return. The Bills re-signed linebacker Nicholas Morrow to their active roster on Monday.
The Jets also have several injuries on defense and bruised egos on offense, along with Aaron Rodgers suggesting he could be released after the offseason.
NFL teams have to submit a report on practice participation on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for a Sunday game. There are three levels of practice participation that can be designated: did not participate, limited participation and full participation.
A game status report is due by 5 p.m. Friday for Sunday games.
Here is the Bills vs. Jets injury report for Week 17:
Rasul Douglas has missed the last two games. He was a limited practice participant leading up to Week 16 against the New England Patriots and was listed as questionable but was inactive.
Kaiir Elam got the start at cornerback both games opposite Christian Benford and played all 152 of the defensive snaps in Weeks 15 and 16.
Douglas left the Week 14 to the loss to the Rams twice, but didn't return after his second injury.
Douglas was sideswiped by safety Taylor Rapp as Cooper Kupp made an acrobatic 18-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. Rapp lowered a shoulder into Douglas' left side and back. Douglas was tended to by medical staff on the field but walked off under his own power. He returned for the next defensive series but left three plays later with a knee injury and did not return.
Damar Hamlin missed the Week 15 and Week 16 wins against the Lions and Patriots. The Bills started Cam Lewis and rookie Cole Bishop at safety.
Hamlin is having a career year. He started the first 13 games of the season and has 83 tackles, two interceptions, five passes defended and a fumble recovery.
Taylor Rapp has missed two consecutive games. He was a limited participant in practice prior to Week 16 against New England.
Rapp has played in 13 of 15 games and is fourth on the Bills with 75 tackles. He also has two interceptions, a forced fumble and six passes defended.
Matt Milano's consecutive games streak ended at three. The linebacker played three games after being activated off injured reserve but did not play in Week 16 with a groin injury.
Milano left in the third quarter in the Week 15 win at Detroit and did not return. He was a limited participant in practice leading up to the game against New England in Week 16.
The Pro Bowl linebacker tore his biceps in training camp. He played in five games in 2023 before suffering a broken leg to end his season in Week 5.
Baylon Spector hurt his right calf in the second quarter of Week 16 victory over New England. He was initially ruled doubtful to return and did not re-enter the game.
Spector was listed as questionable with a calf injury entering the game but got the start against the Patriots. He said after the game that his left calf if starting to bother him from overcompensating for his right leg.
Spector is week-to-week with the injury and will be re-evaluated later in the week, Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday.
Buffalo re-signed linebacker Nicholas Morrow to the active roster on Monday. Morrow played in 11 games with three tackles for the Bills this year before he was released on Dec. 7.
Terrell Bernard was evaluated for a potential head injury in the fourth quarter against New England. Bernard lowered his shoulder as Patriots tight end Austin Hooper was diving forward after a catch and their helmets collided. Bernard was penalized for unnecessary roughness. He returned two plays later.
Taron Johnson headed to the locker room after crashing into a teammate to be evaluated for a head injury with 9 minutes, 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter of the Week 16 win vs. New England.
Johnson, who recovered a fumble in the end zone for a Bills touchdown earlier in the quarter, was attempting to making a diving open field tackle on Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas. Linebacker Terrel Bernard came over to assist as Johnson grabbed Douglas by the waist from behind. Bernard's right hip hit Johnson in his left shoulder and neck area.
Johnson was flagged for a possible head injury by an independent athletic trainer spotter in the booth. He went to the blue medical tent before walking to the locker room. Johnson returned at the two-minute warning.
Curtis Samuel did not play in Week 16 against the Patriots after suffering a left shoulder injury in the second quarter of the victory over the Lions in Week 15. Samuel entered Week 16 as questionable.
Samuel was hurt while making his only catch of the game, a 1-yard reception. He returned on Buffalo's second offensive possession of the second quarter.
Dorian Williams entered the game questionable but played in the victory over the Patriots in Week 16. Baylon Spector got the start over Williams with Matt Milano out with a groin injury. Spector went down with a calf injury late in the first half and Williams was inserted the rest of the game. Williams played 48 of 73 defensive snaps (65.8%) and 15 of 24 special teams snaps (62.5%) and recorded eight tackles and a fumble recovery.
Williams suffered an left elbow injury in the second quarter against the Lions in Week 15. His arm got caught between a Detroit player and teammate Terrel Bernard. Williams was initially ruled questionable to return but he went back into the game just prior to the two-minute warning after linebacker Matt Milano left with a groin injury.
Williams, who started at linebacker during Matt Milano's extended absence, is the Bills' leading tackler this season. He has 108 tackles, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.
Another week, another Josh Allen funny bone scare. Allen whacked his right elbow on the helmet of Patriots linebacker Yannick Ngakoue while being tackled on a scramble in the third quarter.
Allen flexed his hand and tried shaking it loose between plays. After the Bills series ended, Allen spoke to a trainer in the sideline and warmed up by throwing on the sideline. He said in his postgame press conference that he lost feeling in his hand.
"It took a good 5-10 minute of making sure, trying to get some blood flow back in there and some activation," Allen said. "When it's cold like that too, the more you leave it out the (more) numb the whole hand gets."
Allen hit the ulnar nerve on left arm in the Bills' win over the 49ers in Week 13.
David Edwards injured his left ankle and missed the final two plays of the third quarter in Week 16. Edwards' left ankle was stepped on by center Connor McGovern. He was tended to by medical trainers on the sideline and missed the final two plays of the third quarter before returning on the drive.
All five of Buffalo's starting offensive lineman have played at least 90% of the team's offensive snaps this season.
The following Bills players are on injured reserve:
Aaron Rodgers is dealing with an MCL injury that he suffered against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
"I'm going to play and it feels pretty good," Rodgers said Tuesday. "A little MCL but I've had a lot worse. I lucked out, avoided major stretchage of the MCL.
"There's no way I'm not playing."
Rodgers said one of his goals is to play all 17 games in 2024.
Former Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor is the Jets' backup behind Rodgers.
Sauce Gardner suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter of New York's loss to the Rams in Week 16. He was ruled questionable to return but did not come back into the game.
Gardner missed Week 14 with a hamstring injury. He played the following week and made his first interception in more than two years to secure New York's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15.
Gardner was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons.
Tony Adams suffered an ankle injury late in the second quarter against the Rams. Adams was hurt making a tackle on Los Angeles running back Kyren Williams. Adams intercepted Matthew Stafford in the first quarter and had five tackles before leaving the game.
Adams could've come back in an emergency role at the end of the game, Jets head coach Jeff Ulbrich said in his postgame press conference.
Adams has 75 tackles, which is third most on the Jets, in 2024.
Olu Fashanu exited with a foot injury in the fourth quarter and was carted off the field against the Rams. He did not return.
Fashanu is going to be placed on injured reserve with plantar fasciitis, Jets head coach Jeff Ulbrich announced Tuesday.
"Unfortunately his season is done," Ulbrich said.
Jets head coach Jeff Ulbrich did not want to discuss the severity of the injury until more testing is done but praised Fashanu, saying he should be the left tackle in New York for a long time. Ulbrich called Fashanu's play as a rookie "astounding."
The rookie first-round pick, No. 11 overall, has played in all 15 games with seven starts and only allowed one sack this season.
Michael Carter II did not play against the Rams in Week 16. He didn't practice in the week prior to the game.
Carter II has been dealing with a back injury most of the season. He missed three straight games from Weeks 5-7, including the first matchup against Buffalo. Carter only played in 18 total defensive snaps in Weeks 14-15.
Quinnen Williams missed his first game of the season in Week 16. New York gave up 122 yards rushing to Rams running back Kyren Williams without Williams in the middle.
He left the Jets' victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15 after playing 58 snaps. Williams did not practice leading up to the loss to the Rams but was a game-time decision and tested his hamstring during warmups before being ruled inactive.
Williams, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, is second on the team with six sacks.
The Jets opened the 21-day practice for Leki Fotu on Dec. 17. Fotu was placed on injured reserve Oct. 31.
He was a full participant in practice last week but was ruled out against the Rams in Week 16.
The following Jets players are on injured reserve: