Linebacker Terrel Bernard sustained a quad injury last Sunday in the Buffalo Bills’ blowout win over the New York Jets. Coach Sean McDermott said on Wednesday that Bernard won’t play against the Patriots in the regular season finale. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)Getty Images
By Matt Parrino | mparrino@nyup.com
Orchard Park, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard left last week’s game against the New York Jets with a quad injury and he isn’t practicing on Wednesday.
Bills coach Sean McDermott ruled Bernard out for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the New England Patriots.
How serious is the injury?
“I really don’t know if he was healthy enough, would he be able to go (against New England)? Possibly,” McDermott said before the Bills’ Wednesday walkthrough practice. “So it’s probably somewhere between day-to-day and week-to-week. More like day-to-day. That’s just non-medical in this case, for me.”
The timing for Bernard’s injury couldn’t be worse, with the playoffs set to begin next week. The 25-year-old middle linebacker missed last season’s divisional-round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs with an ankle injury.
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With Bernard out this Sunday, the Bills (13-3) are planning to start undrafted rookie Joe Andreessen, who entered last week’s game against the Jets when Bernard was injured.
Andreesen had a preseason breakout against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who played their starters for most of the first half. The former University at Buffalo standout finished with a game-high 12 tackles, including two tackles for a loss.
The Bills are getting healthier at the safety position. Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin, and Cam Lewis all participated in practice on Wednesday but were limited. Hamlin missed last week’s game against the Jets, and McDermott said on Monday that he expects Hamlin to be back for the Patriots and to get some run on Sunday.
So if Hamlin returns on Sunday, what does that mean for rookie safety Cole Bishop?
Bishop has played the last three games with Rapp and Hamlin, who were battling injuries. He’s played 183 snaps against the Detroit Lions, Patriots, and Jets, and his play has improved every game. McDermott was asked whether Bishop’s strong play earned him a more significant role once Hamlin returns and he said, “We’ll see.”
“I’ve been very, very pleased with his improvement,” McDermott said. “Just this morning, I was close to him in the meeting and he’s there taking good notes, he’s on his laptop or whatever you call it these days, iPads. And he’s diligently taking notes, and that’s part of the process that leads to what happens on game days. Over the last three games, that’s what we’ve seen.”
The Bills signed veteran All Pro safety Micah Hyde to their practice squad last month and many fans expected him to figure into the team’s plans at safety eventually. But McDermott has consistently poured ice on the idea of Hyde playing. McDermott said on Monday that Hyde won’t be elevated in the regular season finale against the Patriots.
Instead, Hyde has been working closely with Bishop since returning to Buffalo. He’s basically been a player-coach. Bishop has had 18 tackles (1 tackle for a loss) in the three games since he’s been in at safety.
If Hamlin is ready to go for the playoffs, the expectation is that he’d start alongside Rapp for the Bills. But Bishop’s athleticism and tackling ability will likely be factored in by McDermott and the defensive coaches. The rookie could at least find a part-time role to get him on the field, especially on early downs.
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