Injured Bills DT Ed Oliver, LB Matt Milano out against Dolphins

Thu Sep 18 9:29am ET
Field Level Media

Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano and defensive tackle Ed Oliver will not play Thursday night against the Miami Dolphins, head coach Sean McDermott confirmed Thursday.

Milano is dealing with a pectoral injury, while Oliver is nursing an ankle injury. Neither took part in practice Monday or Tuesday ahead of the home game.

Speaking on WGR550 on Wednesday, McDermott also said it isn't clear when Milano will be able to return.

"What I've been told is it's too early until they really see how this thing settles in, if you will, or plays itself out in terms of the days following the injury," McDermott said. "I think that'll have a direct impact on how long he's out."

Defensive backs Taron Johnson (quad) and Cam Lewis (shoulder), as well as linebacker Shaq Thompson (hamstring/hand), all are questionable for the game. They have been limited in practice this week.

Oliver, 27, is in his eighth season since the Bills selected him with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. In 93 career games (84 starts), he has 237 tackles (52 for loss), 73 QB hits, 28 sacks, nine forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Milano, 31, played in just nine games over the past two seasons, suffering a broken leg in 2023 and torn biceps in 2024.

A fifth-round draft pick by Buffalo in 2017, he has 96 career appearances (80 starts), 513 tackles (60 for loss), 42 QB hits, 10 interceptions, 39 pass breakups, three forced fumbles and 11 fumble recoveries.

The Bills are off to a 2-0 start to the season. The Dolphins are 0-2.

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Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 3

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Will Shipley Sep 18 2:40pm ET
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Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley (rib/oblique) returned to practice Thursday for the first time since suffering his Week 1 injury. The second-year back flashed in the opener with three carries for 26 yards, showcasing his big-play potential before exiting. While Shipley logged just 30 carries as a rookie, his role behind Saquon Barkley is expected to expand this season. If he can stay healthy, Shipley profiles as the primary change-of-pace option in Philadelphia's backfield and a valuable handcuff for fantasy managers rostering Barkley.

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Dallas Goedert Sep 18 2:40pm ET
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Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert practiced again Thursday, boosting his chances of suiting up against the Rams in Week 3. Goedert was sharp in the opener, hauling in all seven of his targets for 44 yards while serving as a reliable option in Jalen Hurts' short-to-intermediate passing attack. While his involvement in practice is encouraging, fantasy managers should still monitor his status heading into the weekend, as he remains officially questionable. If active, Goedert profiles as a steady TE1 option in PPR formats given his target volume.

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Kenneth Walker III Sep 18 2:30pm ET
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Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III could be set for a big Week 3 performance against the Saints. He broke out for 105 yards and a touchdown on just 13 carries last week, though Zach Charbonnet actually led the team with 15 rushing attempts. With Charbonnet (foot) sidelined in practice and questionable for Sunday, Walker may be in line for a heavy workload. Facing a Saints defense ranked 18th against the run and giving up 111.5 yards per game, Walker profiles as a RB1 if Charbonnet is limited or out.

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Cedrick Wilson Sep 18 2:23pm ET
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Free-agent QB Hunter Dekkers (Saints) was signed to the New Orleans Saints practice squad Thursday, Sept. 18. The team also released WR Cedrick Wilson from the practice squad.

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Quinshon Judkins Sep 18 2:20pm ET
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Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins wasted no time making his presence felt, racking up 61 yards on 10 carries with three receptions for another 10 yards in his debut. The strong showing has vaulted him to the top of the Browns' depth chart, and fantasy managers should take note. With a potential 15-20 carry workload lined up against the Packers, Judkins has immediate RB2 upside and belongs in starting lineups. His explosive playmaking could not only elevate Cleveland's backfield but also open up more opportunities for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco.

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Chris Rodriguez Jr. Sep 18 2:20pm ET
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With Austin Ekeler (Achilles) sidelined, Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is set for an expanded role in Week 3. He now slots in as the change-of-pace option behind Jacory Croskey-Merritt and could see steady early work, especially if QB Jayden Daniels (knee) is limited against a fierce Raiders pass rush led by Maxx Crosby. Still, fantasy expectations should be tempered -- Las Vegas has allowed just 3.2 yards per carry and 70.5 rushing yards per game, making Rodriguez more of a deep-league stash than a plug-and-play option this week.

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Isaiah Likely Sep 18 2:00pm ET
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Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (foot) is on the practice field for the team's first practice of the week on Thursday, according to Bo Smolka of Press Box. Likely will probably be listed as limited, but it's a good sign that he's making progress after being limited last Friday. The 25-year-old is probably facing an uphill battle to be active on Monday night in Week 3 against the Detroit Lions, but he's getting closer to making his 2025 debut. If you're not stoked on your TE options in fantasy, Likely is worth a pickup now if he's available in your league's waiver wire. Fellow tight end Mark Andrews has been uncharacteristically quiet in two games with Likely sidelined, catching only two of his four targets for seven yards, with the Ravens scoring over 40 points in both of their games. With Andrews struggling, Likely could certainly take over TE1 duties in Baltimore once he's back to full strength.

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Tony Jefferson Sep 18 1:43pm ET
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Los Angeles Chargers S Tony Jefferson was signed off the practice squad on Thursday, Sept. 18.

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Drake Maye Sep 18 1:40pm ET
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Josh Downs Sep 18 1:30pm ET
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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) is practicing on Thursday after he picked up a DNP in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, according to The Athletic's James Boyd. It's unclear if Downs was limited or a full-go, but the fact that he's back on the practice field gives fantasy managers hope that he'll be able to play in Week 3 against the division-rival Tennessee Titans on Sunday. The 24-year-old caught just two of three targets for 12 yards in the season-opening win over the Miami Dolphins, but he bounced back with six catches for 51 yards on eight targets in the Week 2 victory over the Denver Broncos. If he's active, Downs will be an intriguing WR4/flex play in fantasy again this weekend against a Titans defense that has allowed the fourth-most half-PPR points to the position through the first two weeks.

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Jayden Daniels Sep 18 1:30pm ET
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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) is missing a second straight practice on Thursday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Daniels suffered a knee sprain in the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers last Thursday night and is trending toward missing the Week 3 contest this Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. The 24-year-old has a shot to return to practice on Friday, but the Commanders are expected to err on the side of caution with the second-year signal-caller. Veteran backup Marcus Mariota is preparing to start this weekend, and it was telling that Washington had him available to speak to the media on Wednesday, and not Daniels. Fantasy managers should be preparing as if Daniels will not be available for Week 3. Don't be so sure that he'll make it back for Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons, either.

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Tyler Warren Sep 18 1:20pm ET
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Indianapolis Colts rookie tight end Tyler Warren (toe) is returning to practice on Thursday after he was a non-participant in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. Warren could wind up as a limited participant on Thursday, but the important thing is that he's back on the practice field, giving him a chance to play in Week 3 against the division-rival Tennessee Titans. In the one-point win over the Denver Broncos in Week 2, the 23-year-old played a healthy 93 percent of the offensive snaps and caught four of his seven targets for 79 yards. Through his first two NFL games, Warren has 11 receptions for 155 yards on 16 targets. The Colts have made it no secret that he's a big part of their game plan, making him a top-five fantasy TE if he's active this weekend against the 0-2 Titans.

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Jacory Croskey-Merritt Sep 18 1:10pm ET
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Marcus Mariota Sep 18 12:23pm ET
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Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels (knee) is preparing mentally while QB Marcus Mariota is taking the repetitions in practice Thursday, Sept. 18.

Fantasy Spin: That sounds a lot like Mariota is the guy in Week 3. He'll be a streaming option in two-QB leagues against the Las Vegas Raiders, but that's about it.

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Emeka Egbuka Sep 18 12:20pm ET
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hip, groin) is expected to practice on Thursday, despite not being available for the portion of practice open to the media. The Ohio State alum was tagged with a DNP to start the week of preparation, but it's good news that he'll be out there in some fashion the next day. Egbuka has paced all Buccaneers wideouts in snaps thus far, including running mate Mike Evans, who he outsnapped 74-63 in their Week 2 win. It's unclear when exactly the rookie sustained his injuries, but as of now, they don't seem to threaten his status for the team's home meeting with the New York Jets on Sunday. That said, fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on the capacity in which he practices on Friday. He'll be a low-end WR2 with upside if he's active.

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Jayden Daniels Sep 18 12:20pm ET
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Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said that quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) is "preparing mentally" on Thursday ahead of the Week 3 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders this Sunday. "Marcus is taking the reps and Jayden is preparing mentally," Kingsbury said. When asked for a specific update on the health of Daniels, Kingsbury didn't have one, but he did say the team has full confidence in backup Marcus Mariota. Daniels suffered a knee sprain in last Thursday night's loss to the Green Bay Packers and will not practice before Friday, at the earliest. While Washington hasn't ruled Daniels out this weekend, all signs point to them erring on the side of caution and holding him out. Fantasy managers should have already picked up a backup QB this week if Daniels was the only signal-caller on your roster going into the week.

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Chris Godwin Sep 18 12:10pm ET
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) is making good progress after returning to practice last week, but those who ESPN's Jeremy Fowler has spoken to think a return in Week 3 against the New York Jets "might be ambiguous." Godwin returning next week against the Philadelphia Eagles, however, "feels like a real possibility." The 29-year-old suffered an ugly, season-ending dislocated ankle in Week 7 of last year and returned to the practice field for the first time last Thursday. He avoided the Physically Unable to Perform list to begin the season, so Godwin can return at any time once he's cleared. Fantasy managers stashing him in an IR spot have to be pleased by his progress, but make sure to temper expectations once he returns, especially since rookie first-rounder Emeka Egbuka should remain a bit part of the team's passing attack all year.

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Tyrod Taylor Sep 18 12:00pm ET
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