The Bills and Patriots play Monday night, and have released their final injury reports for the week. Unfortunately, there's not really any additional clarity on the key injury question mark, LeSean McCoy.
McCoy practiced on a limited basis all week, but he remains in the concussion protocol. Officially, he's questionable. It sounds like there's a good chance he'll be cleared to return, but it's not certain. Unless we know for sure that he'll be out of the protocol tomorrow (which is possible), best to have another Monday night option you can switch to if you're hoping to use McCoy.
Similarly, if McCoy is ruled out, Chris Ivory looks fairly appealing as the main running back, at least until New England takes a big lead (at which point Marcus Murphy would probably be on the field more). But if McCoy's active, Ivory is best avoided.
The other interesting tidbit from the injury report is that Sony Michel (knee) got in a limited practice today. But he's officially doubtful, so those planning to use James White (or Kenjon Barner) don't realistically need to worry about Michel being active. If New England thought he might actually play, they could have listed him as questionable.
With the rankings, the placements of White and Barner are correct, and also for the Buffalo backs (McCoy is listed as "if active," and Ivory is listed as "if McCoy out").
Josh Gordon and Rob Gronkowski are both listed as questionable, but those guys are expected to play. Gordon has been listed as questionable since joining the Patriots. Gronkowski is also expected to be fine for this game.
Final note, presumably nobody is actually planning on starting Derek Anderson anywhere. But he was removed from the injury report, so he'll be out there.
Full injury reports for both teams are below.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at BUFFALO BILLS
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Status Report
OUT
TE Jacob Hollister (hamstring), CB Eric Rowe (groin), C Brian Schwenke (foot)
DOUBTFUL
RB Sony Michel (knee)
QUESTIONABLE
T Trenton Brown (ankle), T Marcus Cannon (concussion), WR Josh Gordon (hamstring), DE Geneo Grissom (ankle), TE Rob Gronkowski (ankle, back), LB Dont'a Hightower (knee), DE John Simon (shoulder), DE Deatrich Wise (ankle, knee)
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday
RB Sony Michel (knee), CB Eric Rowe (groin), C Brian Schwenke (foot)
Friday
RB Sony Michel (knee), CB Eric Rowe (groin), C Brian Schwenke (foot)
Saturday
CB Eric Rowe (groin), C Brian Schwenke (foot)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
T Trenton Brown (ankle), T Marcus Cannon (concussion), WR Josh Gordon (hamstring), DE Geneo Grissom (ankle), TE Rob Gronkowski (ankle, back), LB Dont'a Hightower (knee), TE Jacob Hollister (hamstring), DE John Simon (shoulder), DE Deatrich Wise (ankle, knee)
Friday
T Trenton Brown (ankle), T Marcus Cannon (concussion), WR Josh Gordon (hamstring), DE Geneo Grissom (ankle), TE Rob Gronkowski (ankle, back), LB Dont'a Hightower (knee), TE Jacob Hollister (hamstring), DE John Simon (shoulder), DE Deatrich Wise (ankle, knee)
Saturday
T Trenton Brown (ankle), T Marcus Cannon (concussion), WR Josh Gordon (hamstring), DE Geneo Grissom (ankle), TE Rob Gronkowski (ankle, back), LB Dont'a Hightower (knee), TE Jacob Hollister (hamstring), RB Sony Michel (knee), DE John Simon (shoulder), DE Deatrich Wise (ankle, knee)
BUFFALO BILLS
Status Report
OUT
QB Josh Allen (right elbow), RB Taiwan Jones (neck), DE Trent Murphy (knee)
QUESTIONABLE
RB LeSean McCoy (concussion)
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday
LB Lorenzo Alexander (not injury related), QB Josh Allen (right elbow), RB Taiwan Jones (neck), DE Trent Murphy (knee), DT Kyle Williams (not injury related)
Friday
QB Josh Allen (right elbow), RB Taiwan Jones (neck), DE Trent Murphy (knee)
Saturday
QB Josh Allen (right elbow), RB Taiwan Jones (neck), DE Trent Murphy (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
QB Derek Anderson (back, calf), RB Chris Ivory (hamstring), RB LeSean McCoy (concussion)
Friday
QB Derek Anderson (back, calf), RB Chris Ivory (hamstring), RB LeSean McCoy (concussion), T Jordan Mills (knee)
Saturday
WR Kelvin Benjamin (not injury related), RB LeSean McCoy (concussion)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Saturday
QB Derek Anderson (back, calf), RB Chris Ivory (hamstring), T Jordan Mills (knee)
--Andy Richardson