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Alaina GetzenbergESPN
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills are adjusting their practice schedule because of a number of illnesses on the team.
Coach Sean McDermott said five players would be absent from Wednesday’s practice because of illness, including defensive linemen Jordan Phillips and Tim Settle, linebacker Matt Milano, defensive back Cam Lewis and fullback Reggie Gilliam.
With not enough healthy players available, McDermott said the Bills will do less 11-on-11 work ahead of Sunday’s home game against the Cleveland Browns.
“We’re going to adjust practice because we don’t have enough numbers to practice,” McDermott said. “So we’re going to adjust a little bit, we’ll go out there and do some individual and then have to just service offense, service defense, so some of this is affected by that.”
Quarterback Josh Allen also will be limited in practice Wednesday with the right elbow injury that affected him last week. During the portion of practice open to the media, Allen was wearing a sleeve on his right arm and stood to the side for some drills.
Allen did not throw in some of the drills that backup quarterback Case Keenum and practice squad quarterback Matt Barkley were throwing in.
“It’s day by day,” McDermott said about Allen’s injury. “And I’m saying that not because anything’s changed, but we reassess and see where we’re at after today and what tomorrow looks like and how he is and maybe even what practice looks like.
“Practice today allows some guys to practice the way we’re practicing that wouldn’t have normally practiced due to some injuries. So we’ll just stay flexible.”
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is not practicing because of a groin injury, while safety Jordan Poyer (elbow) and cornerback Kaiir Elam (ankle) returned to practice after missing time.
The Bills are also dealing with weather. Multiple feet of snow is expected in the days leading up to the game, and the team practiced indoors Wednesday.
McDermott said that the team has been in full communication with the NFL if any weather-related changes were to come for Sunday’s game and that plans are being put in place if the team is unable to come to the facility on Friday and/or Saturday.
Source: www.espn.com