Bills training camp injury update: Last season's leading receiver out several weeks
For a team that has practiced in full pads only three times at the start of training camp, the Buffalo Bills have a massive injury list that grew since their practice at Highmark Stadium Friday night.
In that session, in front of nearly 40,000 fans, wide receiver Khalil Shakir - one of the most important players on offense - suffered a high ankle sprain and he’s going to miss at least several weeks.
“He's dealt with one before,” coach Sean McDermott said Sunday before the Bills’ return to the practice fields at St. John Fisher University. “He's extremely tough, a big part of our offense. It's gonna take some time, high ankles normally do. So it's an opportunity for, again, somebody else to show us what they've got. And we'll see how that goes.”
Shakir was the Bills’ leading receiver in 2024 with 76 catches for 821 yards and four TDs, and that was in 15 games. He is Josh Allen’s most trusted target, a tough player to replace, so the only good news here is that it’s early August, more than a month from opening day, and Shakir should be able to get back in time to face the Baltimore Ravens.
Here’s the rest of the lengthy list:
LB Terrel Bernard injury update
First a little good news as Bernard, who missed several days last week with a hamstring injury, returned to work Sunday morning on a limited basis.
OL Spencer Brown injury update
He has not been on the field yet as he has dealt with back pain, but he is beginning to ramp up now and is working on a limited basis for the first time all camp. He is participating in just the position drills.
WR Josh Palmer injury update
He was dealing with a slight groin injury and sat one practice, but he was on the field at Highmark and he’s also back here at St. John Fisher.
LB Shaq Thompson injury update
The veteran left the field during the practice Friday at Highmark Stadium with a hamstring injury. Thompson signed a one-year contract with the Bills after playing 10 seasons with the Panthers, the last two of which were ruined by serious injuries including a torn Achilles injury that he suffered on Sept. 30, 2024.
CB Maxwell Hairston injury update
He has been on crutches ever since suffering an LCL sprain his knee early last week, and the diagnosis is that he’s likely out at least three weeks, though it could be more.
LB Dorian Williams injury update
He remains sidelined with a calf injury, but at least the return of Bernard on a limited basis helps the position.
K Tyler Bass injury update
The only kicker in camp is still dealing with pelvic soreness and has not practiced since early last week.
OL Alec Anderson injury update
He underwent a knee procedure last week and will be out for at least another two weeks.
WR Curtis Samuel injury update
He’s still dealing with a hamstring issue and it feels like this is going to continue, though he did tell reporters the other night that he’ll be fine. We’ll see.
S Cole Bishop injury update
Once again, the second-year man is sitting out important reps at training camp, this time with a quadriceps injury.
S Taylor Rapp injury update
The other starting safety is also on the mend Sunday, dealing with a knee injury.
OL Sedrick Van Pran-Granger injury update
He hasn’t practiced yet at St. John Fisher and McDermott said he may not be ready for several more weeks.
WR Kaden Prather injury update
He’s still out with a hamstring injury and as a seventh-round pick, his chances of making the team were already slim to none. Now, he needs to start proving he’s worth a practice squad spot.
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades including 35 years as the full-time beat writer for the D&C, he has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.