Orchard Park, N.Y. — After the Buffalo Bills disposed of the AFC East rival New England Patriots last Sunday, fans immediately began to ponder the status of injured starting center Mitch Morse, who left the game during the first offensive drive of the game with a concussion.
Bills coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that Morse was placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol and he didn’t practice on Wednesday. He was off to the side doing some cardiovascular work with the training staff, along with fellow injured Bills: cornerback Cam Lewis and linebacker Tyrel Dodson, who are both on injured reserve.
Morse is likely in either Stage 3 or Stage 4 of the protocol based on his activity on Wednesday. He’ll enter Stage 5 when he’s able to participate in a full contact practice.
Safety Micah Hyde was in a red non contact jersey and was a limited participant in practice, indicating that he’s progressed to the final stage of the protocol.
The rest of the Bills injury report is lengthy. Receiver John Brown, who played through a nagging knee injury against the Patriots, missed practiced. Defensive ends Jerry Hughes (foot), Darryl Johnson (knee), running back Taiwan Jones (hamstring), linebacker Matt Milano (pec), cornerback Josh Norman (hamstring), and running back T.J. Yeldon also didn’t practice.
Milano played just 15 snaps against the Patriots while on a pitch count for the second straight week. He played 19 against the New York Jets as he continues to try and rehab a partially torn pectoral muscle. Norman hasn’t practiced since he injured his hamstring in practice two weeks ago. Hughes didn’t practice last Wednesday with the foot but he played 40 snaps against the Patriots.
Six players were limited in practice on Wednesday: defensive tackle Vernon Buter (groin), Cody Ford (knee), Jake Fromm (non injury), Hyde, defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (knee), and guard Brian Winters (knee).
Ford injured his knee during the Kansas City Chiefs game. He missed the last two games and practiced for the first time on Wednesday since. Ford’s return could come at a convenient time for the Bills, who will likely be without Morse if he can’t clear the protocol before Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks. With Winters still dealing with a knee injury, Buffalo will take all the healthy linemen they can find.
Butler missed the Patriots game and if he can continue to practice this week and play some role against the Seahawks, the Bills interior defensive line will be much better off.
It’s worth noting that quarterback Josh Allen is still appearing on the injury report with the shoulder. He’s been full in every practice since suffering the injury against the Tennessee Titans. But he’s still dealing with it and wearing the brace.
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