The Bills Injury Report has several important developments heading into Buffalo’s Week 1 matchup against the Houston Texans.
The Bills are scheduled to open the 2026 NFL regular season on Sunday, September 13, at 1:00 p.m. ET in Houston.
Buffalo is entering the season with a mostly healthy roster. However, several injuries could affect the team’s depth and defensive rotation.
Here are six important injury updates Bills fans need to know before kickoff.
1. Ty Johnson Remains a Major Concern
Running back Ty Johnson is one of the biggest concerns on the current Bills Injury Report.
Johnson is dealing with a hamstring injury. He did not practice Wednesday and remained out of practice Thursday. The official Bills report currently lists him without a final game designation.
That situation matters because Johnson provides valuable depth behind James Cook.
If Johnson cannot play, Buffalo could need to lean more heavily on its other running backs.
James Cook remains the centerpiece of the backfield. However, losing Johnson could reduce Buffalo’s flexibility, especially in passing situations.
Recent reporting also indicates Johnson was still sidelined heading toward the weekend.
Injury: Hamstring
Practice: DNP Wednesday, DNP Thursday
Concern level: High
2. T.J. Sanders Has a Knee Issue
Defensive lineman T.J. Sanders is another name worth watching.
Sanders is dealing with a knee injury. He was limited on Wednesday before missing Thursday’s practice.
That change is significant.
A limited practice can suggest a player is progressing. However, moving from limited participation to no participation is something fans will naturally monitor.
Sanders was expected to be part of Buffalo’s defensive line rotation.
That makes his status especially important against Houston.
The Texans can create problems with their physical offensive approach. Buffalo’s new defensive system also wants to improve against the run after struggling in that area last season.
If Sanders misses the game, other defensive linemen may have to take additional snaps.
Injury: Knee
Practice: LP Wednesday, DNP Thursday
Concern level: High
3. Jordan Hancock Is Fighting Through a Quad Injury
Cornerback Jordan Hancock is the third player currently appearing on Buffalo’s official Week 1 injury report.
Hancock is dealing with a quad injury.
He did not practice Wednesday but returned on a limited basis Thursday.
That second development is actually more encouraging.
A return to limited participation suggests Hancock was able to get back on the field in some capacity.
However, the Bills have not yet provided a final game status on the official report.
Hancock could be important for Buffalo’s secondary depth.
Houston will test the Bills’ defensive backs throughout the game. Therefore, even a small limitation could influence defensive rotations.
The positive news is that Hancock did not remain completely sidelined for the entire practice week.
Injury: Quad
Practice: DNP Wednesday, LP Thursday
Concern level: Moderate
4. Zane Durant Is Already on Injured Reserve
One of the more significant roster developments involves rookie defensive lineman Zane Durant.
The Bills placed Durant on Injured Reserve before the season.
According to general manager Brandon Beane, Durant is dealing with a neck stinger. The team wants to give the injury time to resolve, and his earliest possible return could come in Week 5.
That means Durant will not be available for the opening portion of the season.
This is especially important because Buffalo is trying to establish a new defensive identity under coordinator Jim Leonhard.
The team wants to become more aggressive while also improving its run defense.
Durant’s absence therefore removes another young defensive lineman from the equation.
The Bills have adjusted by keeping DeWayne Carter on the 53-man roster. Carter is returning after missing the entire 2025 season with an Achilles injury.
Status: Injured Reserve
Injury: Neck stinger
Earliest potential return: Week 5
Concern level: High for defensive depth
5. Tyrell Shavers Is Still Recovering From His ACL Injury
Wide receiver Tyrell Shavers is another major name on the Bills’ injury list.
Shavers suffered an ACL tear during Buffalo’s Wild Card game against Jacksonville in January.
The Bills placed him on the Reserve/PUP list on August 30.
His absence is important because Shavers was coming off a productive 2025 regular season.
He appeared in all 17 games and recorded 23 receptions for 245 yards and one touchdown before suffering the ACL injury.
Buffalo has added more offensive firepower this offseason, including wide receiver DJ Moore.
Still, Shavers’ injury removes another option from the receiving group.
The Bills are expected to rely on their healthy receivers while Shavers continues his rehabilitation.
Injury: ACL
Status: Reserve/PUP
Concern level: High for early-season availability
6. Dorian Strong Remains on the NFI List
Cornerback Dorian Strong is another player currently unavailable because of injury.
The Bills list Strong on Reserve/Non-Football Injury.
Strong has dealt with a neck injury dating back to the previous season.
Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane previously said Strong was in a healing phase and that the team was taking a wait-and-see approach.
His absence creates another depth issue in the secondary.
That becomes more important when combined with Hancock’s current quad issue.
However, it is important not to confuse Strong’s status with the current Week 1 official injury report. He is not one of the three players currently listed on that game-week report.
Status: Reserve/NFI
Injury history: Neck
Concern level: Moderate for roster depth
What the Bills Injury Report Means for Week 1
The good news is that Buffalo is not dealing with a massive list of confirmed Week 1 absences.
The official game-week report currently shows Johnson, Sanders and Hancock. Their final availability remains something to watch as the Bills approach Sunday.
The bigger concern is depth.
Buffalo already has Durant on IR and Shavers on PUP. Strong is also unavailable.
That means the Bills cannot afford many additional injuries during the season opener.
The defensive line deserves particular attention.
Sanders’ status could determine how Buffalo distributes snaps against Houston. Durant is already unavailable, while the team is counting on players such as DeWayne Carter to contribute.
Meanwhile, Johnson’s hamstring injury could increase the workload for Buffalo’s other running backs.
Bills vs Texans Injury Outlook
The Bills will face the Texans in Houston on Sunday, September 13.
The matchup is particularly interesting because Buffalo is beginning a new defensive era under Jim Leonhard. The team wants to become more aggressive and improve its run defense.
That makes the Sanders situation worth monitoring closely.
Buffalo also has history working against it in Houston. The Bills have lost their last five regular-season games there, according to the team’s official preview.
So, entering this matchup with as much roster availability as possible will be extremely important.
Final Bills Injury Report Takeaway
The latest Bills Injury Report does not indicate a catastrophic injury situation heading into Week 1.
Still, there are six developments worth monitoring.
Ty Johnson and T.J. Sanders are the biggest immediate concerns because both missed Thursday’s practice. Jordan Hancock provided some positive news by returning to limited participation.
Meanwhile, Zane Durant, Tyrell Shavers and Dorian Strong remain unavailable because of longer-term injury situations.
For Buffalo, the key question is simple:
How many of these players can be available when the Bills kick off against Houston?
The final active/inactive decisions will provide the clearest answer.
For more injury updates about Week 1, check our latest NFL injury report.
FAQs
Is Ty Johnson playing against the Texans?
Ty Johnson is dealing with a hamstring injury and missed Wednesday and Thursday practices. His final game status was not yet listed on the official Bills report reviewed for this article.
What happened to T.J. Sanders?
T.J. Sanders is dealing with a knee injury. He was limited Wednesday and did not practice Thursday.
Is Jordan Hancock injured?
Yes. Hancock is listed with a quad injury. He missed Wednesday’s practice but was limited Thursday.
When can Zane Durant return?
Durant is on Injured Reserve because of a neck stinger. The earliest possible return would be Week 5, although the Bills want to see how he progresses.
What happened to Tyrell Shavers?
Shavers is recovering from an ACL tear suffered during Buffalo’s Wild Card game. He is currently on Reserve/PUP.
When do the Bills play the Texans?
Buffalo visits Houston on Sunday, September 13, at 1:00 p.m. ET in Week 1.
Verification note: Injury designations can change before kickoff, so the official Bills/NFL report should be checked again when the final game status and inactive list are released.
