He’s never been this close to a shot at the playoffs entering Week 17 before. That’s why a postseason berth for the Bills would be a well-deserved reward for Kyle Williams.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
Playoffs would be great reward for Kyle
He’s been toiling away day in and day out. He’s served as a team captain, team leader and master motivator for the better part of his 12 NFL seasons. None of them however, have finished with a playoff berth.
That’s why a victory on Sunday along with some help to get Buffalo a spot in the postseason would be a welcome reward for Kyle Williams.
“I think it would mean the world,” said head coach Sean McDermott. “It would mean the world to this city and I think it would mean the world to Kyle. I know he wants that, but he also wants what comes with that journey, the championship. Just in small talks I’ve had with Kyle about it. There is a lot of emotion that goes into that because of all the blood, sweat and tears he has put in, his family has put in to this city and this team and the hours that he spends here trying to perform at a very high level for so many years. There is an emotion tied to that.”
Sunday will be the first time in his career that Williams is playing a regular season finale with a playoff berth a part of the equation.
Benjamin among those not practicing
There are a handful of players not practicing on Wednesday. Heading up the list is Kelvin Benjamin who continues to monitor his knee injury so he’s good to go come game day this weekend.
Benjamin had his best day with the Bills last week in New England with five receptions for 70 yards. It would’ve included a touchdown reception too had it not been reversed by replay.
Also dealing with a nagging injury is the aforementioned Kyle Williams. He too will sit out Wednesday practice due to a groin injury, though he hasn’t missed a game to this point.
Shareece Wright remains in concussion protocol and Ryan Groy is sidelined due to illness.
First year a fast mover for McDermott
Buffalo’s sideline boss sometimes feels like he blinked and he went from training camp to Week 17. Here he is with his team with a shot at the postseason, but coach McDermott can’t believe how quickly the last week of the regular season has arrived.
“In this case for me the head coaching job, it’s gone fast,” said McDermott. “It really has. It’s flown by. It’s been challenging, and I’ve loved it, every minute of it. It’s been fun to watch our building hang together, as you’ve heard me say before. That’s part of building our culture, is being able to sustain that, through one season to another season. That’s the great part of it that tells me we’re heading in the right direction.”
3 added to active roster
Injuries suffered by Andre Holmes and Travaris Cadet landed them on injured reserve. Buffalo promoted three players from the practice squad to help fill the void.
In the wake of some injuries suffered by players on the active roster, the Bills have promoted three players from their practice squad.
Buffalo elevated WR Malachi Dupre, RB Marcus Murphy and DT Rickey Hatley to the 53-man roster. To make room for them the Bills placed WR Andre Holmes and RB Travaris Cadet on injured reserve. Holmes missed last week’s game with a neck injury. Cadet suffered a fractured ankle in Sunday’s game against the Patriots.
The other roster spot was created with the release of DT DeAndre Coleman.
Dupre (6-2, 196) has been on Buffalo’s practice squad since mid-September. A seventh-round pick of the Green Bay Packers this past spring, the LSU product did not make the team’s final roster.
Murphy (5-9, 195) is a third-year player who was last with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad before he was signed to Buffalo’s practice squad last month. A former seventh-round pick of the New Orleans Saints, Murphy was primarily used as a return specialist. With Cadet out for the season however, Murphy could serve as a backup to LeSean McCoy in Week 17.
Finally, DT Rickey Hatley (6-4, 320) had just been signed to the team’s practice squad over the weekend. The rookie went undrafted and was signed by Houston, but didn’t make their final roster. He was last serving on the Chiefs practice squad before signing with Buffalo a few days ago.