Bills receiver Cole Beasley is considered week-to-week after sustaining a leg injury late during the team's victory over the Patriots on Monday, head coach Sean McDermott announced.
Beasley has had a career year through 15 games, establishing personal highs in receptions (82), receiving yards (967), and catches for first downs (53).
McDermott also announced that tight end Reggie Gilliam is week-to-week after missing the game Monday with a knee/hamstring injury.
The Bills could receive a boost to their receiving corps depending on the status of John Brown, who has not played since Week 10. Brown (ankle) was activated from injured reserve last week only to then be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list as a close contact of running back T.J. Yeldon.
"I thought he looked like it was his second or third week back (at practice), whatever it was last week," McDermott said of Brown. "He was making very good progress. We'll see how this week plays itself out with COVID and the time that you have to go through in order to come back, but I thought John was in a good spot last week."
The Bills enter Week 17 having already clinched the AFC East but can secure the No. 2 seed in the conference with a victory over the Dolphins. McDermott said the team has made a decision on whether or not starters will play Sunday, but that decision will be kept in-house.
Buffalo can also clinch the No. 2 seed with a Pittsburgh loss against Cleveland. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will not play in that game.
The second seed would guarantee multiple home playoff games should the Bills advance beyond the wild-card round.
"I'm gonna keep that within our organization for a lot of reasons," McDermott said. "A, because I haven't talked to the players yet and B, because I think that's the best move for us."
A reward for Webb
The Bills promoted quarterback Davis Webb from the practice squad prior to the game on Monday only to then leave him inactive, a move McDermott revealed was made to reward Webb for the unique role he has played this season.
"I think he's done a phenomenal job, he really has," McDermott said. "I don't think I've been around a guy that's added value in so many ways to a team in a role that he has on the field, which is to say in terms of not being a starter."
Webb was drafted by the Giants in the third round in 2017, then spent time with the Jets before arriving in Buffalo last September. Daboll echoed McDermott's praise of the 25-year-old, stressing the variety of roles Webb has played on the practice squad.
"He's one of the best teammates that I've ever seen," Daboll said. "He'll work on special teams if he needs to work on special teams, he'll work on the defensive show team. He does an unbelievable job of helping Josh prepare for games. He spends a lot of time with (assistant quarterbacks coach) Shea (Tierney) and going through the team we're about to play. He just has his hands in so many different things for us. He's such a valuable part to our team."
Milano's workload increases again
Matt Milano played 44 defensive snaps Monday, 88 percent of the team's total. That represented his highest count since Week 4, a sign he is returning to form just in time for the playoffs.
Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier pointed to Milano's open-field tackle of running back James White, his coverage of the Patriots' tight ends and his overall tackling as evidence of the linebacker's readiness to return to a full-time role.
"The last few weeks he's really come along to the point where we ended up starting him last night," Frazier said. "And man, he makes a difference. He did a terrific job for us and his presence was felt, whether we were bringing him in pressure or if he was in coverage. He's a vital part of our success on defense and it's really good to have him back."
Daboll on Allen's record
Daboll admitted he was unaware that Allen had an opportunity to break Jim Kelly's team record for passing touchdowns in a single season Monday, a feat Allen achieved with his fourth score against the Patriots. That said, the coach and Western New York native offered a unique perspective on what it meant.
"I'm glad to see him get that," he said. "He's earned that. Obviously, Jim was one of my favorite players growing up here back in the day when I was at St. Francis High School and watching him play. It's just pretty cool that he's still around, still around here, lives in this community and the type of guy he is. I know Josh has such a tremendous amount of respect for him. I'm happy for Josh there."
