The Buffalo Bills will take three questionable players into Thursday night’s Week 2 matchup with the Detroit Lions: safety Cole Bishop, running back Ty Johnson and defensive lineman T.J. Sanders.
All three were limited in Buffalo’s final practice of the short week. Linebacker Terrel Bernard was also limited by a calf issue, but he does not carry a game designation and is expected to be available.
Buffalo’s final injury report leaves three game-time decisions
Bishop is dealing with knee and groin injuries, Johnson remains on the report with a hamstring issue and Sanders is managing both a knee problem and an illness. The Bills listed all three as questionable after Wednesday’s practice.
The short turnaround matters because Buffalo is playing only four days after its Week 1 win over Houston. There is less recovery time than a normal week, and the Bills have already been managing Johnson and Sanders since before the opener.
Johnson and Sanders are trying to make their season debuts
Johnson and Sanders were both inactive for Buffalo’s 36-31 Week 1 victory over the Texans. Johnson’s hamstring injury had kept him from regular practice work for an extended stretch, while Sanders was listed with a knee injury leading into the opener.
Both players returned to limited work this week, which gives them a path to being active against Detroit. Johnson would restore another experienced option behind James Cook and Ray Davis, while Sanders would add interior defensive-line depth on a night when Buffalo will need to handle Detroit’s physical run game and protect against a quick passing attack.
The Bills do not have to force either player back simply because the game is on Thursday. If Johnson or Sanders is not ready, Buffalo already has Week 1 experience operating without them.
Bishop’s status adds uncertainty to the secondary
Bishop’s situation is different because he was not one of Buffalo’s Week 1 inactives. He opened this week as a full participant before being limited on Tuesday and Wednesday with knee and groin issues.
That progression makes his pregame evaluation worth watching. Buffalo’s secondary is already built around flexibility, and losing a safety on a short week would force the defense to redistribute snaps and communication responsibilities against a Detroit offense that uses motion and multiple personnel groupings.
Bernard is limited but carries no game designation
Bernard was limited throughout the week with a calf injury, but the Bills did not list him as questionable. That is an important distinction: limited practice participation by itself does not mean a player is uncertain to play, and Buffalo’s final designation indicates Bernard is expected to be available unless something changes before kickoff.
The same final report showed Detroit ruling out offensive linemen Christian Mahogany and Blake Miller, with cornerback D.J. Reed questionable because of a foot injury. FSN has already covered Reed being added to Detroit’s injury report ahead of the Bills matchup.
Why the availability decisions matter Thursday night
Buffalo enters the game 1-0 after beating Houston 36-31, while Detroit also arrives unbeaten after an overtime win over New Orleans. The Bills are opening their new Highmark Stadium with a nationally televised game, so the final active roster will matter in a matchup expected to test depth on both sides.
Johnson’s status affects offensive and special-teams flexibility. Sanders’ status affects the defensive-line rotation. Bishop’s status affects the secondary. None of the three absences would automatically force a major schematic change, but having all three available would give Buffalo more options in a short-week game where substitutions and fresh legs carry extra value.
What to watch next
The final answer will come with Buffalo’s inactive list roughly 90 minutes before kickoff. Until then, Bishop, Johnson and Sanders remain legitimate game-time decisions rather than confirmed absences.
For Buffalo, the encouraging part is that all three were able to practice in limited fashion Wednesday. The remaining question is whether that work was enough for the medical staff and coaching staff to clear them for Thursday night.
Sources
- Buffalo Bills: Final Week 2 injury report vs. Lions (September 16, 2026)
- NFL.com: Official Week 2 injury report (accessed September 17, 2026)
- Buffalo Bills: Week 1 inactives at Houston (September 13, 2026)