ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – In a move that’s sent shockwaves through the NFL world, the Buffalo Bills have dropped a bombshell just hours before kickoff against the AFC East rival Miami Dolphins on Sunday, November 9. The team has officially listed five key starters as inactive for the high-stakes Week 10 clash at Hard Rock Stadium, dealing a massive blow to their playoff aspirations amid an already injury-plagued season.

The inactive designations, announced via the team’s final injury report on Saturday, include star running back James Cook, defensive end Joey Bosa, starting cornerback Christian Benford, defensive end AJ Epenesa, and linebacker Shaq Thompson. This cluster of absences – all of whom were pivotal in Buffalo’s gritty Week 9 upset over the Kansas City Chiefs – leaves the Bills scrambling to plug holes on both sides of the ball as they chase a wild-card spot in the loaded AFC.

Head coach Sean McDermott addressed the media with a somber tone post-practice, refusing to sugarcoat the severity. “These are tough calls, but health comes first. We’re a resilient group, and the depth we’ve built is about to be tested like never before,” McDermott said. “Miami’s a dangerous team on their home turf – Tua [Tagovailoa] and that speed – we can’t afford to blink.”

The Injury Fallout: From Midweek Concerns to Game-Day Reality

What started as a concerning midweek injury report ballooned into a full-blown crisis by game’s eve. Wednesday’s practice opened with 10 players on the list, including seven projected starters, but the Bills held out hope that rest and treatment could salvage a few key pieces. By Saturday, however, the grim reality set in.

• James Cook (RB, Ankle) – DNP to Inactive: The explosive back, who torched the Chiefs for 114 yards on 76% of offensive snaps despite tweaking his ankle in that 24-20 win on November 2, was a full-go in limited drills early in the week. But swelling and soreness persisted, sidelining Buffalo’s lead rusher for the first time this season. “It came up during the game. Just sore in the last couple days after the game there,” McDermott had noted Wednesday. Without Cook, rookie Ty Johnson and veteran Latavius Murray will shoulder the load in a run game that’s been the Bills’ lifeline.

• Joey Bosa (DE, Wrist) – DNP to Inactive: Acquired in a blockbuster trade deadline deal from the Chargers, Bosa’s disruptive presence (2.5 sacks in his Bills debut) was expected to terrorize Miami’s rebuilt offensive line. But a nagging wrist injury from Week 9 limited him to 44 of 60 defensive snaps and has now forced him out entirely. The severity remains under wraps, but whispers in the locker room suggest it could linger beyond this matchup. Von Miller steps up as the elder statesman on the edge.

• Christian Benford (CB, Groin) – Limited to Inactive: The Bills’ top boundary corner, Benford popped up unexpectedly on Wednesday’s report with a groin tweak – possibly aggravated in practice. He’d battled the same issue before the season opener against Baltimore and hasn’t missed a snap yet, but his coverage has dipped from his Pro Bowl-caliber 2024 form. With Benford out, rookie Kaiir Elam draws the tough assignment on Tyreek Hill. “Christian’s a warrior, but we’re not risking it,” McDermott added.
• AJ Epenesa (DE, Concussion) – DNP to Inactive: The former second-rounder had been a fixture through eight games, logging 3.5 sacks and consistent pressure. But a helmet-to-helmet hit late against Kansas City landed him in concussion protocol. Despite passing initial tests, an independent neurologist cleared him too late – or not at all – for Sunday. This leaves Buffalo’s pass rush perilously thin opposite Bosa’s void.
• Shaq Thompson (LB, Hamstring) – DNP to Inactive: The veteran linebacker, who missed the Chiefs win entirely, showed brief flashes in limited Thursday work but pulled up lame in Friday’s session. His sideline leadership and run-stopping prowess will be sorely missed against Miami’s ground-and-pound attack led by Raheem Mostert.

Silver Linings? Limited Participants Return to Action

Not all news was bleak for the Bills. Wide receiver Joshua Palmer (knee/ankle), sidelined since the October 13 loss to Atlanta, logged full practices all week and is active – a huge boost for Josh Allen’s aerial attack. Linebacker Terrel Bernard (ankle) also upgraded to full participant after a limited Wednesday, ready to man the middle alongside Matt Milano.

Holdovers from the injury report who dodged the inactive axe include:

• Taron Johnson (CB, Groin) – DNP but Active: The nickel specialist sat out Wednesday but returned limited Thursday and full Friday. He’ll shadow Miami’s slot weapons.
• DaQuan Jones (DT, Calf) – DNP but Active: The big-bodied run-stuffer is good to go after missing Week 9.
• Jordan Phillips (DT, Wrist) – Full Participant: No restrictions for the rotational tackle.

Broader Implications: Trade Deadline Ghosts and Playoff Pressure

This injury avalanche comes on the heels of a chaotic trade deadline for Buffalo, where they cut ties with Army linebacker Bo Nix (yes, the quarterback-turned-linebacker experiment) and ex-Patriots wideout DeVante Parker in salary cap maneuvers. Meanwhile, defensive lineman Michael Hoecht, who suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 8, posted an inspirational message on social media: “Setbacks are setups for comebacks. Bills Mafia, this one’s for us.”

With a 6-3 record hanging by a thread, the Bills (currently the No. 7 seed) can’t afford a slip-up in Miami. The Dolphins, riding a three-game win streak behind Tagovailoa’s precision and a ferocious defense, smell blood in the water. A loss drops Buffalo into a tie with the Jets and Colts for the final wild-card spot, intensifying the urgency.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium. Will the Bills’ depth chart hold, or will this bombshell prove to be the detonator for a midseason meltdown? Tune in to CBS for what promises to be a thriller – or a nightmare – for Bills fans.

Updated Bills Injury Report (Week 10 Final – Inactives Bolded)