Bills Players Injured Before Season Starts

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills are grappling with a significant injury crisis as they approach the regular season, with key players sidelined. Recent injuries have affected receivers Curtis Samuel and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, safety Damar Hamlin, and backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Samuel is dealing with a turf toe injury, while Hamlin is out with a hamstring issue, both sustained last week. Valdes-Scantling and Trubisky were injured during a preseason victory against Pittsburgh, adding to the team's woes. The Bills began training camp with a roster featuring 43 newcomers, leaving only 11 players from the 2020 season. The injury list has grown, particularly with starting linebacker Matt Milano expected to miss several months due to a torn bicep. Head coach Sean McDermott has expressed concern over the team's injury situation, opting to rest all projected starters for the upcoming preseason finale against Carolina and reducing practice time this week. “It’s a challenge, but we’ll find our way through it,” McDermott stated. Samuel and Valdes-Scantling were brought in as veteran free agents to bolster the receiving corps after the trade of Stefon Diggs. Meanwhile, Trubisky's injury has prompted the Bills to seek a new backup quarterback for the second consecutive week, following the signing of Ben DiNucci. Hamlin was in contention for a starting role in a position already weakened by injuries to other players. As the Bills navigate this challenging period, they anticipate the return of several injured players, including veteran linebacker Nicholas Morrow and free agent Mike Edwards, who are expected to resume practice soon. The team remains focused on finding solutions to overcome these setbacks.