Buffalo Bills Get Bad News for 6 Key Players After Painful Loss to Falcons

Buffalo, NY — The Buffalo Bills walked out of Monday Night Football not just with a heartbreaking 25–20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, but also with a devastating wave of injuries

that has shaken the team heading into their bye week.

Head coach Sean McDermott confirmed after the game that six key players are now dealing with injuries — a blow that comes at a critical point in Buffalo’s season.

The most serious concern is defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, who suffered a calf tear during pregame warmups. McDermott described the injury as Jones having “popped his calf

,” and the veteran lineman was later seen wearing a walking boot. Jones has been a core presence on the defensive front, starting all five games this season before Week 6 and anchoring the line since joining Buffalo in 2022.

The Bills’ injury list didn’t stop there. Wide receiver Joshua Palmer was ruled out in the first half after rolling his ankle on a 45-yard reception. Before leaving the game, Palmer had

two catches for 60 yards, showing flashes of explosiveness before the injury cut his night short.

Linebacker Terrel Bernard also left the game with an ankle injury after being rolled up on during a tackle late in the second quarter. He was able to walk off under his own power, but his status remains

questionable heading into the bye.

Meanwhile, cornerback Christian Benford gave Buffalo a rare bit of relief — after a brief exit with an Achilles issue, he returned to action in the third quarter, showing resilience in an already depleted secondary.

Those injuries compound the Bills’ existing absences, with Matt Milano (leg), Damar Hamlin (shoulder), and rookie DT T.J. Sanders (knee) all on injured reserve. The team has been scrambling to fill gaps on both sides of the ball, but depth continues to be tested week after week.

The impact was felt against the Falcons, where Buffalo’s defense struggled mightily — giving up 210 rushing yards, including 170 and a touchdown to Bijan Robinson. Offensively, Josh Allen

had another rough outing, throwing two interceptions and posting his lowest QBR (18.7) since 2019.

Now sitting at 3–3, the Bills head into a much-needed bye week, hoping the time off can bring recovery — and a reset. McDermott said the focus now is rest, reflection, and preparation for a critical Week 8 matchup against the

Carolina Panthers.

Buffalo’s season isn’t lost, but the road ahead depends on one thing: getting their stars healthy again.