While this season’s NFL Playoffs were expected to be more intriguing than usual due to there not being clear top teams in either conference, no one could have expected what has already been a historically tightly contested postseason. Each of the first four games were decided by no more than four points.
They all featured several lead changes. While each team’s win was impressive, the Buffalo Bills heading into Jacksonville and defeating the Jaguars stood out due to Josh Allen‘s performance. The reigning MVP was fantastic, putting the team on his back, which has had to be the case practically all season. But even after the victory, Allen and the Bills got dealt another brutal blow.
Tyrell Shavers played 2nd half of Bills-Jags game with torn ACL
Tyrell Shavers, a second-year wideout who has become a crucial part of the Bills offense, is out for the rest of the postseason due to a torn ACL he suffered in the first round game. Shockingly, Shavers played a ton of snaps in the second half of the game, despite suffering the injury in the first half.
A very few handful of players have been able to gut out some plays while enduring a torn knee ligament in recent NFL history. The most notable was Philip Rivers, who played the 2007 AFC Championship game with a torn ACL and meniscus, which he had suffered the week prior.
Buffalo Bills down to three wide receivers on active roster as playoffs continue
Following Shavers’ injury, the Bills are down to literally only three wide receivers on their active roster. Gabe Davis, who played a role in the game against the Jaguars, also tore his ACL in that game. Shavers and Davis join receivers Curtis Samuel and Joshua Palmer, who were already on IR.
It’s a truly stunning development for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Allen already had his work cut out for him with a limited wide receiver group, in terms of talent and production. Now, his job just got a whole lot harder. Behind Khalil Shakir, veteran Brandin Cooks and the much-maligned Keon Coleman will have to step up.
Tight end Dalton Kincaid, who is dealing with a leg injury of his own, could see more snaps at wide receiver against the Denver Broncos. That is, if he’s even healthy enough to play in that game. He was wearing a walking boot following the Jaguars game, although it was “precautionary“, according to head coach Sean McDermott.
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