Everyone knew with LeSean McCoy in the concussion protocol that at best the Bills feature back would be limited in practice. And while it was encouraging that McCoy was able to participate on a limited basis, it was a surprise to see Buffalo's chief complementary back to McCoy limited in practice along with the starting quarterback Thursday.
Chris Ivory, who had over 100 all-purpose yards last week against the Colts, after McCoy left with a head injury on the second offensive play from scrimmage, was limited in practice Thursday with a hamstring injury. QB Derek Anderson was also limited in practice.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott values what Ivory brings to Buffalo's offensive backfield.
"He offers a change of pace a little bit," said McDermott. "I think he also gives us an identity in terms of the toughness. Then what he's able to do not only inside the tackles, but outside the tackles is sometimes more than people expect."
So although it was a good sign that McCoy was already in step four of the return-to-participation protocol and practicing on a non-contact basis, Ivory's limited participation will be something to watch in the coming days.
Meanwhile Anderson was limited by back and calf injuries. After a long layoff and not a lot of conditioning training leading up to his first start last week against the Colts, the veteran QB shared how he felt early in the week.
"I was a little sore Monday. A little sore Tuesday, but I'm working through it," said Anderson. "(Thursday) I felt like I had a pretty good day out there. Nicks and bruises, everybody has got them. Overall my body felt fine. I hadn't been hit in a while, but it wasn't something I wasn't used to."
DID NOT PRACTICE
LB Lorenzo Alexander – rest
QB Josh Allen – right elbow
RB Taiwan Jones – neck
DE Trent Murphy – knee
DT Kyle Williams - rest
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
QB Derek Anderson – back/calf
RB Chris Ivory – hamstring
RB LeSean McCoy - concussion
The Patriots saw TE Rob Gronkowski return to practice after missing last week's game due to back spasms. Gronk participated on Thursday on a limited basis.
RB Sony Michel, who suffered a knee injury last week, did not practice along with CB Eric Rowe.
Other injuries of note include WR Josh Gordon, who is nursing a hamstring injury and LB Dont'a Hightower with a knee injury.
Below is their level of participation in Thursday's practice.
DID NOT PARTICIPATE
RB Sony Michel - knee
CB Eric Rowe - groin
OL Brian Schwenke - foot
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
OT Trent Brown - ankle
OT Marcus Cannon - concussion
WR Josh Gordon - hamstring
DL 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
Photos of the Buffalo Bills as the team prepares for their Week 8 Monday Night Football game against the New England Patriots.
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Practice Buffalo, NY October 25, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
