The Buffalo Bills are closing in on their first preseason game, but will likely take the field without their top wide receiver.
Khalil Shakir was forced to leave the team’s practice on Friday after suffering an injury, and the team revealed on Sunday that he could miss several weeks. Shakir has been a major part of the offense and is expected to return to his role as the top wide receiver in the coming season.
Khalil Shakir Listed as ‘Week-to-Week’
Head coach Sean McDermott shared an injury update early on Sunday, listing the receiver as week-to-week with a high ankle sprain. Shakir had to leave the field during the team’s practice on Friday.
McDermott said Shakir has been through an ankle sprain before, but the team knows it will not be a short process.
“He’s dealt with one before, he’s extremely tough… it’s going to take some time,” McDermott said.
Shakir suffered an injury in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens last year, missing a game the next week. He finished the season with 76 receptions for 821 yards and four touchdowns, all career highs.
Bills Dealing With More Injuries
The Bills have been bitten by the injury bug through the first two weeks of training camp, with several wide receivers going down. Aside from the recent injury to Shakir, fellow veteran Curtis Samuel and rookie Kaden Prather were also held out of practice on Sunday.
Joshua Palmer, another offseason addition to the wide receiving corps, was listed as limited for Sunday’s practice.
Ralph Ventre of SI.com noted that Samuel could also miss an extended stretch.
“Dealing with a hamstring issue, Samuel could be sidelined another week or more, especially if the Bills take a cautious approach,” Ventre wrote. “In his second season with Buffalo, the former second-round draft pick was trending up. At Practice No. 2, he made noteworthy plays during both 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work.”
Prather’s missed time could be significant for his hopes of making the final roster, Ventre wrote.
“Prather, the No. 240 overall pick this past April, seems like a roster longshot destined for the practice squad as he has yet to experience a padded practice,” Ventre wrote. “The Maryland product limped off during Practice No. 4. He wore a wrap on his upper left leg after visiting the medical tent.”
The Bills have a crowded wide receiver room, with several talented players likely falling below the cut line and at risk of being lost on waivers if the team tries to put them through to the practice squad. That includes Tyrell Shavers, who had a breakout performance in the team’s Week 17 win over the New York Jets last season.
Shavers had played mostly as a special teams player in his few appearances last season, but came in at wide receiver with the Bills leading the game 33-0. He took a middle screen pass from backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky and rushed through the defense 69 yards for a touchdown.
Shavers is not expected to make the final roster, but could return to the practice squad if he clears waivers.
