The Buffalo Bills‘ offensive depth has been dealt a stunning blow just days before their divisional showdown against the Denver Broncos, with wide receiver Tyrell Shavers confirmed to have a torn anterior cruciate ligament that will sideline him for the remainder of the postseason.
Head coach Sean McDermott broke the news Tuesday, revealing the outcome of further evaluation after Shavers sustained the knee injury during the Bills‘ 27-24 wild-card victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Remarkably, Shavers returned to the field after initially exiting and finished the game with one reception for 14 yards, even after the ligament damage had occurred.
Shavers‘ absence compounds an already challenging situation for Buffalo, which also lost veteran wideout Gabe Davis to a torn ACL. Both players had been key contributors throughout the season.
“Tough loss, certainly praying for him,” McDermott said in announcing the diagnosis. “Just amazing what he was able to do to come back in the game and play the way that he did.”
Shavers finished second on the team in yards per reception during the regular season, averaging 16.3 yards per catch and totaling 245 yards with one touchdown on 15 receptions.
Davis had been a consistent target for quarterback Josh Allen, recording 129 yards and a touchdown on 12 receptions. The Bills‘ receiving corps, already thin, will now need to adapt quickly to fill the void.
Allen himself is expected to play, though he enters the game dealing with a series of injuries including issues with his head, hand, and leg that were aggravated during the Jaguars game.
The reigning MVP will clearly not be at full strength, a factor that could influence Buffalo‘s offensive strategy. Safety Jordan Poyer is also listed as week-to-week with a hamstring injury.
Broncos facing their own share of injured players
Meanwhile, the Broncos are managing their own injury concerns, though most key players are expected to suit up. Head coach Sean Payton confirmed last Friday that the team anticipates “most everyone back” for the divisional clash.
Inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw, sidelined since Week 16, is expected to play but may be on a snap count behind starters Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad.
Questions remain over the status of starting safety Brandon Jones, who suffered a pectoral injury in Week 15 and underwent surgery in recent weeks.
According to 9NEWS insider Mike Klis, there is a “possibility” that Jones could return by the Super Bowl if the Broncos advance.
Running back J.K. Dobbins, who has been out since November with a Lisfranc injury, may also return in time to contribute in the postseason.
“Keep in mind, the usual recovery time for those respective injuries – torn pec and Lisfranc – extends beyond the February 8 Super Bowl date,” Klis explained in his report.
“Jones‘ pec injury occurred near the end of the first half of the Broncos‘ win against Green Bay on December 14. The Super Bowl would be just seven weeks from his injury. Dobbins‘ Lisfranc issue would be three months from the Super Bowl.”
The injury situations for both teams set the stage for a physically taxing contest in Denver. Buffalo will need to find creative ways to replace Shavers and Davis in the passing game, while Allen must navigate his ailments.
The Broncos, meanwhile, will look to maximize contributions from available players while managing those returning from long-term injuries.
Both clubs have the talent to advance, but Saturday’s matchup will be a true test of resilience, depth, and coaching acumen as injuries continue to shape the NFL playoff landscape.
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