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T.J. Sanders Injury Update: Bills DT Had Limited Practice on Wednesday Ahead of Week 2
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- T.J. Sanders Injury Update: Bills DT Had Limited Practice on Wednesday Ahead of Week 2
The Buffalo Bills are preparing for their Thursday night matchup against the Detroit Lions after defeating the Houston Texans 36-31 in Week 1. Defensive lineman T.J. Sanders is questionable for the game due to a knee injury and an illness. Sanders did not play against the Texans because of knee issues, which have persisted into the second week of the season.
Sanders was a limited participant on Monday before missing Tuesday's practice, as per reports. The Bills noted that his Tuesday absence was illness-related rather than a setback with his knee. He returned to the field Wednesday as a limited participant, keeping the door open for Thursday night. The quick turnaround makes his final status critical, as Buffalo faces a short preparation window between games.
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Running back Ty Johnson is also questionable with a hamstring injury. He has been dealing with the issue since early training camp and missed Buffalo's Week 1 opener. Johnson was limited in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday as the Bills continued to monitor his progress. If he cannot play, Buffalo would have to rely on James Cook and Ray Davis , with Frank Gore Jr. another depth option.
Sanders and Johnson are joined by starting safety Cole Bishop , who is questionable with knee/groin injuries. All three were limited in Wednesday's session.
Bills Still Have Enough Firepower Despite Injury Concerns
Josh Allen enters Week 2 as Buffalo's premier playmaker, after a spectacular finish against Houston. He completed 20 of 29 passes for 334 yards and two passing touchdowns, while adding two rushing touchdowns. His 34-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Palmer with 1:36 left gave Buffalo the lead in the 36-31 win. That performance gives the Bills some breathing room if Sanders or Johnson cannot suit up.
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Joe Brady began his head coaching tenure with a dramatic road win. The Bills' offense delivered in key moments, while the defense made the decisive play when edge rusher Greg Rousseau secured a late strip-sack to seal the outcome.
Detroit also enters Thursday night at 1-0. Jared Goff , Jahmyr Gibbs , and Amon-Ra St. Brown present a formidable challenge for Buffalo's secondary, which surrendered too many open routes in Week 1. Consequently, the pass rush must generate consistent pressure, making Rousseau a pivotal factor once again.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
