The Buffalo Bills are preparing to play without punter Cameron Johnston in their upcoming Week 5 game against the New England Patriots. Head coach Sean McDermott announced on Monday that Johnston will be sidelined with a foot and ankle injury.
“He’ll miss some time. No word on the timetable exactly right now,” McDermott said.
Johnston was injured during the second half of Sunday’s win over the New Orleans Saints when he was hit by a defender while attempting a punt. The play resulted in a roughing the kicker penalty, and Johnston needed assistance from trainers to leave the field.
With Johnston unavailable, McDermott stated that the team would evaluate other punters as potential replacements. “We will bring some punters in to take a look at them, and then we’ll go from there on that,” he said.
Johnston joined the Bills earlier this month after Brad Robbins, the previous punter, was released.
In addition to Johnston’s injury, three players—cornerback Maxwell Hairston, offensive lineman Tylan Grable, and kicker Tyler Bass—are eligible to return from injured reserve this week. They can begin practicing if their 21-day window is opened by the team. McDermott expressed his desire for all three players to return soon but did not indicate whether their practice windows would open this week.
“Those decisions will be made at the right time; conversations will be had. So, we’ll go forward with that in mind,” McDermott shared.
He also explained that roster management is part of these decisions: once a player’s practice window opens, the team has 21 days to activate them or place them on season-ending injured reserve. “One thing affects another,” McDermott said of the decision process. “Number one is them getting healthy enough to be back. Two is, what is the next move, the corresponding move after that.”
The Bills were also missing defensive tackle Ed Oliver, linebacker Matt Milano, and right tackle Spencer Brown during Sunday’s game against New Orleans. McDermott reported progress for all three players.
“I’ll know more as we get through Tuesday and then into Wednesday morning as to their status for this week,” he said. “We’ll probably have to take it one day at a time.”
Oliver has been out since Week 1 with an ankle injury. Milano left during Week 2 due to a pectoral issue, while Brown missed last week’s game because of a calf injury but participated in limited practice last Friday.
