QB health updateBuffalo's quarterback depth chart took another hit on Sunday as Nate Peterman after a helmet-to-helmet hit went into the concussion protocol. Tyrod Taylor was inactive for Sunday's game against the Colts as his knee injury did not recover in time to be active for the game. So where do things sit going into this week's game against Miami?
"Tyrod has made progress over the last couple of days," said head coach Sean McDermott. "That'll be a day to day thing as we move forward into this week. Anything more than that right now would be premature. Nate is currently in the concussion protocol."
McDermott did say that there was a chance this past Sunday that Taylor could play, but come the morning of the game his knee had not made enough progress rendering the quarterback unfit to play against the Colts.
In the event that Taylor doesn't come around and Peterman remains in the concussion protocol, the Bills could be in a QB crisis situation similar to the one the Bills faced on Sunday, after Peterman left the game with his head injury. Joe Webb stepped in and TE Logan Thomas would be the backup.
But McDermott doesn't get the sense it would go that far.
"The medical reports we've gotten to this point, which is still early, and going through our process, right now where we are in this week I feel confident with what we've got."
That would seem to indicate that McDermott believes he'll have one of his top two quarterbacks available for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
Coach McDermott also held to his stance last week that when healthy Taylor is the starter.
2 – Milano now a starter at LBThe snow didn't seem to have an impact on Matt Milano's game Sunday. He finished with a game-high 11 tackles to lead the Bills. The rookie linebacker also made a good number of plays in coverage to hold receivers from reaching the yard to gain for a first down.
Milano got 51 snaps in the game as he and Ramon Humber essentially exchanged playing time with the veteran linebacker only getting 20 snaps against the Colts. It was the most playing time Milano has seen since he filled in for an injured Humber and started against Tampa Bay and Oakland in back-to-back week. He got a season-high 52 snaps against the Raiders when he had a 40-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier confirmed that Milano is now the starter at the weakside linebacker spot.
"We inserted him in the starting lineup on Sunday," Frazier said. "He did a terrific job. We plan on, barring anything happens this week in practice, he's starting again against our next opponent, Miami."
3 – Big Ben and Tomlin get tip of capCoach McDermott isn't paying much attention to the AFC playoff race, but he did know that Baltimore losing to Pittsburgh on Sunday night was a help to Buffalo's postseason aspirations. The Ravens 39-38 loss to the Steelers dropped them even with the Bills at 7-6 on the season.
"Yeah, I appreciate you Ben [Roethlisberger]," said McDermott in reference to Pittsburgh's quarterback, who threw for over 500 yards and led the Steelers to a fourth-quarter comeback. "Mike Tomlin, former college teammate, appreciate the help."
Tomlin and McDermott were teammates on William & Mary's football team.
