Bills Remain Unlikely To Trade LeSean McCoy
- The Bills remain unlikely to trade LeSean McCoy, per Schefter.
LeSean McCoy Still In Concussion Protocol
LeSean McCoy‘s status for Monday night’s game against the Patriots is still up in the air. ESPN’s Mike Rodak tweets that the Bills running back is still in the concussion protocol. Head coach Sean McDermott said the team is taking it “one day at a time” with McCoy as they prepare for the team’s first Monday night game in almost a decade.
McCoy left the opening drive of Buffalo’s Week 7 loss to the Colts, but he was already back at Thursday’s practice on a limited basis. The veteran would have to be cleared by the medical staff if he wants to suit up against New England, but his participation in practice is encouraging. At the very least, there seems to be more optimism surrounding McCoy’s status than there was at the beginning of the week.
The 30-year-old is currently averaging a career-low 3.9 yards-per-attempt, and he’s yet to score a touchdown this season. However, McCoy had compiled at least 1,000 rushing yards in both 2016 and 2017, and his Pro Bowl pedigree has to led him being involved in a number of trade rumors. While teams like the Eagles are still monitoring the situation, we recently heard that the Bill were unlikely to trade the running back.
While McCoy’s status is up in the air, it sounds like Chris Ivory is ready to go on Monday night. Rodak tweets that the veteran running back is on track to play despite his injured hamstring. The 30-year-old compiled 81 rushing yards on 16 carries in place of McCoy last weekend, and he added another three receptions for 25 yards. Marcus Murphy would also see reps if McCoy doesn’t suit up.
Broncos Promote Isaiah McKenzie
The Broncos announced the promotion of wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie from the practice squad to active roster. McKenzie will fill the roster spot vacated by Wednesday’s release of Chad Kelly. 
The Broncos had good reason to promote McKenzie to the varsity squad. The Bills were trying to sign the Georgia product recently, and the Broncos did not want to let McKenzie leave.
McKenzie, 23, was a fifth-round pick of the Broncos last year. He appeared in eleven games with the majority of his work coming on special teams. McKenzie returned 21 punts for 183 yards (8.7 yards per attempt) and three kickoffs for 50 yards.
For now, the Broncos are moving forward with Case Keenum and Kevin Hogan as their only quarterbacks on the roster. The Broncos may want to consider adding another QB to the mix soon, particularly given Keenum’s struggles this year.
Josh Allen To Miss This Weekend
- Bills quarterback Josh Allen is out again this weekend, reports ESPN’s Mike Rodak (via Twitter). Derek Anderson will slide back into the starting lineup one week after having thrown three interceptions in a loss to the Colts. Allen hadn’t looked a whole lot better through his first six NFL games, as he completed only 54-percent of his passes for 832 yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions.
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Cowboys Monitoring Bills WR Kelvin Benjamin
- In addition to Cooper, the Cowboys are monitoring Dolphins WR DeVante Parker and Bills WR Kelvin Benjamin, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The Eagles have also spoken to Miami about Parker, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (via Twitter).
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/19/18
Here are today’s practice squad moves, with a trio of wide receivers on the move:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Robert Foster
Cincinatti Bengals
- Signed: WR Auden Tate
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Krishawn Hogan
- Released: WR K.J. Brent
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/18/18
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Cam Phillips
- Waived: RB Robert Foster
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: CB KeiVarae Russell
- Waived: WR Auden Tate
Washington Redskins
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Jehu Chesson
Bills To Start Derek Anderson
For the first time since 2016, Derek Anderson will start an NFL game. On Wednesday, Bills coach Sean McDermott announced that the veteran quarterback will get the nod over Nathan Peterman when the Bills face the Colts on Sunday. 
Starter Josh Allen is out with an elbow injury, but he will not require major surgery and is considered week-to-week. The Bills turned to Peterman after Allen went down against the Texans, but he did not inspire confidence after yet another spotty performance. The Bills were quietly excited about the 2017 fifth-round pick last year, but they have little incentive to start him now.
Peterman has now occupied every possible spot on the Bills’ QB depth chart this season. The Pittsburgh product was set to be the club’s No. 2 QB behind A.J. McCarron and ahead of Allen, but September’s surprising trade propelled him to the top job. Peterman was atrocious in the season opener, however, and quickly ceded the starting gig to Allen. This week, he was primed to re-take the first-string assignment, but the newly-acquired Anderson has received the nod, despite having been in Buffalo for just over one week.
Anderson has 76 career NFL appearances under his belt, though he has not seen consistent action since his 2010 campaign with the Cardinals. He went just 2-7 that year, but he did lead the 2007 Browns to a 10-5 record in 15 starts en route to his only Pro Bowl nod.
Josh Allen Has UCL Damage
Josh Allen will miss time for the Bills, and after the rookie quarterback visited Dr. James Andrews, more clarity’s emerged on what the rookie quarterback’s battling.
The damage to Allen’s elbow involves his UCL, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). This problem often leads to pitchers undergoing Tommy John surgery, but Mike Garafolo of NFL.com notes that doesn’t appear to be necessary for Allen. This isn’t a full tear, per Pelissero.
This said, the expectation for now is Allen will miss at least two games, perhaps three, Pelissero tweets. The Bills turned to embattled second-year passer Nathan Peterman after Allen went down on Sunday. They also have the recently signed Derek Anderson on their roster.
Buffalo’s offense has submitted a historically woeful stretch, with Football Outsiders’ Aaron Schatz tweeting the Bills’ offensive DVOA through six games is second only to the 2004 Dolphins’ among the worst the website has graded since 1986. The Bills have won two games, though, with Allen starting.
The team ditched its offseason plan of A.J. McCarron and moved on from Peterman after another disastrous start, beginning the Allen era. But the Bills appear certain to have to play without Allen for the time being.
Bills’ Josh Allen Suffers Injury
Bills rookie quarterback Josh Allen suffered a right elbow injury in Sunday’s 20-13 loss to the Texans, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com writes. It is not considered to be a major injury at this time, but the team will run his MRI results past Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion. 
The Bills do not want to rush Allen back, though the QB wants to play. After making a huge investment by drafting him, the Bills are understandably cautious. There’s also not a huge need to get him back on the field right away, given their 2-4 start.
“We’re going to take it one day at a time,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said Monday.
If Allen is a no-go for Sunday against the Colts, the Bills will have to decide between Nathan Peterman and Derek Anderson as his stand-in. After Peterman threw two picks in relief of Allen on Sunday, the newly-acquired Anderson may be the logical choice to start. In speaking with reporters on Monday, McDermott indicated that he would consider both the short- and long-term ramifications of benching Peterman in favor of the former Panthers veteran.
“I got to put the right guy out there that I feel is best for our football team,” McDermott said. “I understand the fans and that sentiment, but at the same time, I have to do what we feel is best for the football team moving forward.”