Bills adjust practice schedule after 5 players were absent from Wednesday’s practice due to illness 

The Buffalo Bills have been forced to alter its practice schedule this week after at least five players on the team fell sick. 

Head coach Sean McDermott confirmed that defensive linesmen Jordan Philipps and Tom Settle, linebacker Matt Milano, defensive back Cam Lewis and fullback Reggie Gilliam have been absent from Wednesday’s practice due to illness. 

‘We’re going to adjust practice because we don’t have enough numbers to practice,’ McDermott said. ‘So we’re going to adjust a little bit, we’ll go out there and do some individual and then have to just service offense, service defense, so some of this is affected by that.’ 

To make matters worse, Bills quarterback Josh Allen has also been limited in terms of mobility in practice, as of late, due to a right elbow injury that he sustained in the final minutes of Buffalo’s Week 9 loss to the Jets.

Bills coach Sean McDermott said five players were sick and absent from Wednesday’s practice

Bills quarterback Josh Allen is continuing to nurture an elbow injury and sat out of some drills

Since then, the 26-year-old has been wearing a sleeve on his right arm, including against the Vikings in a 33-30 loss. Over the course of this season, Allen’s thrown for 2,733 yards (64.5 pass completion), including 20 touchdown passes, but the number of turnovers (10) is starting to show in recent games, with three of them coming against Minnesota.

He also threw two interceptions in a 20-17 loss at the New York Jets a week earlier. Two weeks ago, Allen threw two second-half interceptions in a 27-17 win over Green Bay. Overall, the 2018 1st round pick has thrown seven interceptions in his last three games.

On Wednesday, he was noticeably sitting out of a few physical and throwing drills, ESPN reported. However, the Bills’ backup quarterbacks, Case Keenum and Matt Barkley, were involved in them. 

‘It’s day by day,’ McDermott said regarding Allen’s right arm. ‘And I’m saying that not because anything’s changed, but we reassess and see where we’re at after today and what tomorrow looks like and how he is and maybe even what practice looks like. 

‘Practice today allows some guys to practice the way we’re practicing that wouldn’t have normally practiced due to some injuries. So we’ll just stay flexible.’ 

Allen injured his right elbow in the dying minutes of the 17-20 loss to the Jets on November 6

Perhaps, an intervention of sorts might be in order for Allen who in one month has gone from leading the NFL in yards passing and touchdowns passing (in October) to now leading the league with 10 interceptions.

The defense has been an issue too, allowing a combined 529 yards rushing in its past three outings. An injury-depleted secondary was unable to contain Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson, who had 10 catches for 193 yards and a touchdown in the Bills’ last game. 

Much of the Bills’ success the previous two seasons — consecutive AFC East titles and three playoff victories — can be attributed to Allen. But Buffalo’s in a bit of a slump, losing both of their games this month.

Linebacker Von Miller isn’t worried about the team’s slump after losing two of their last three

Von Miller said there’s no reason to panic.

‘It’s Week 10 and we’ve got seven games left. Hey, we’re not finished then,’ the edge rusher said.

And yet, receiver Stefon Diggs cited one of Miller’s familiar mantras by raising a sliver of concern.

‘Von always says don’t blink,’ Diggs said. ‘And I feel like we might be blinking a little bit.’