Bills WR INJURIES, ED OLIVER RETURNS? BUFFALO PREPS FOR BRONCOS

Summary

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Buffalo Plus: Bills WR Injuries, Ed Oliver Returns? Buffalo Preps for Broncos

Date: January 14, 2026
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes

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Episode Overview

In this episode, the Buffalo Plus team discusses the Buffalo Bills' latest struggles with injuries, focusing particularly on the depleted wide receiver corps following Tyrell Shavers’ season-ending ACL tear. The group breaks down how the team and coaching staff are managing these setbacks, considers who might step up offensively, provides updates on key injured players including Ed Oliver, and previews challenges as the Bills prepare for the divisional round against the Denver Broncos—especially the implications of playing at elevation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tyrell Shavers’ Season-Ending Injury

• News recap: Tyrell Shavers tore his ACL in Sunday's game against Jacksonville but astonishingly re-entered the game and contributed, particularly in the "tush push" play (00:48–01:37).
  • Mike Catalana: “He is blocking. He's putting more effort in than some of the guys on the Jags. When Josh was being pushed down the field 11 yards, he was doing that with a torn ACL ... he's done for the year.” (01:17)
• Coach’s praise: Sean McDermott highlighted Shavers' toughness and commitment.
  • Quote: “He embodies what we're all about... Remarkable toughness, remarkable commitment to the team.” — Sean McDermott (01:46)

2. Depleted Wide Receiver Room & Next Steps

• State of the WR corps: The group is now led by Keon Coleman (benched four times this year), Khalil Shakir (reliable but limited), and Brandon Cooks (added mid-season, increasingly effective). Depth and quality are lacking.
  • Jenna Cottrell: “There's only so much attrition you can handle as a group ... it's not just a room that doesn’t have quality. It doesn’t have quantity right now, and that's a big issue on a short week heading out to Denver.” (02:28–03:17)
• On Keon Coleman: Has not been consistent, describes his plays as “routine.” (02:52)
• Brandon Cooks: Becoming more reliable, but still not a complete solution.
• Roster moves: Christian Wilkerson signed (05:07), but little receiving help available on the market.

3. Josh Allen’s Response to Adversity

• QB mindset: Josh Allen maintains faith in the remaining receivers and emphasizes the need to adapt and maximize each player's strengths.
  • Quote: “Yeah, obviously not an ideal situation, but I still trust that room completely... I got no doubt that whoever's going to be up in those spots is going to do their job, step up, and help us win or help us make plays.” — Josh Allen (03:29; also echoed at 00:00)
• Stresses the importance of practice this week to develop timing and chemistry with new receiving combinations.

4. Coaching Challenges & Outlook

• Sean McDermott's approach: Acknowledges the brutal injury luck but focuses on “dealing with the cards we're dealt” (04:06–04:24).
• As a coach, dealing with both emotional impact on players and strategic pivoting for the next game is a balancing act. (04:24–05:07)

5. Possible Returns: Curtis Samuel & Ed Oliver

• Curtis Samuel: Feels better; wants to ramp up but faces time constraints. He’s experienced and knows his body (05:31–05:55).
• Ed Oliver: Optimistic but noncommittal about playing Saturday.
  • Quote: “I just started walking through today, so we’ll see. I'm optimistic. I'm excited, but I don't know yet.” — Ed Oliver (06:42)
  • Discussed the possibility of a limited snap count (15–20 snaps) for him, could be significant in the defensive line rotation (06:13–07:24).

6. Broncos Game: Mile-High Challenges

• Denver elevation: Discussed as a real factor, but one the team won’t focus on excessively.
  • Jenna Cottrell: “Josh Allen was asked ... [about elevation experience from] Wyoming. He was like, we can’t focus on that, we gotta be prepared. Which I think, there is a real element of that.” (08:07)
• No extra acclimation time; the Bills will travel to Denver just one day early (08:40–08:48).
• Discussion about not letting the challenge of altitude become a mental hurdle (“perseverate” segment, 09:23–09:46).

7. Broader Injury Report

• Key limited participants: Dalton Kincaid, Terrell Bernard, AJ Epenessa, Matt Milano, Greg Rousseau.
• Non-participants: Jordan Poyer, Max Tierston, Ty Johnson, Matt Prater (10:18).
  • Mike Catalana notes belief that Prater will be available and that the team is “beaten up but resilient.” (10:18)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tyrell Shavers’ grit:
  • “When Josh was being pushed down the field 11 yards, [Shavers] was doing that with a torn ACL ... he's done for the year.” — Mike Catalana (01:19)
• Team culture, per coach:
  • “He embodies what we're all about.” — Sean McDermott on Shavers (01:46)
• QB leadership:
  • “Not an ideal situation, but I still trust that room completely ... I got no doubt that whoever's going to be up... is going to do their job.” — Josh Allen (03:29)
• Ed Oliver’s optimism:
  • “I just started walking through today, so we’ll see. I'm optimistic. I'm excited, but I don't know yet.” — Ed Oliver (06:42)
• On Denver elevation:
  • “You can prepare for that ... but you can’t change that. ... Sometimes you can kind of perseverate on that.” — Jenna Cottrell (09:03)

Fun Moment

• Word of the day:
  • "Perseverate" becomes a lighthearted on-air vocabulary check, with Jenna and Mike debating its meaning and usage (09:23–09:48).

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Important Timestamps

• 00:48 – News of Tyrell Shavers’ ACL injury and return to field
• 01:46 – Sean McDermott”s praise for Shavers’ toughness
• 02:28 – State of the WR room, depth issues, Keon Coleman’s inconsistency
• 03:29 – Josh Allen’s comments on adapting to WR injuries
• 04:06 – McDermott & coaches coping with extensive injuries
• 05:07 – WR depth, Wilkerson signing, lack of available talent
• 05:31 – Curtis Samuel’s status
• 06:13 – Ed Oliver injury update, possibility of return
• 08:07 – Mile-high challenge and the mental aspect of Denver’s elevation
• 09:18 – Full injury report rundown

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Final Thoughts

Despite major injury setbacks, especially at receiver, the Bills remain focused on “making it work” (11:17). The team’s resilience is a recurring theme. The hosts also set the stage for continuing coverage from Denver, inviting listeners to engage and follow along as the playoff week unfolds.

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Transcript

[A]

Yeah, obviously not an ideal situation, but I still trust that room completely. I got no doubt that whoever's gonna be up in those spots is gonna do their job, step up, and then help us win or help us make plays.

[B]

All right, welcome back to the Buffalo Channel. Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fates. With a veteran day off, please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe, subscribe and share. We're going to talk today about the injuries, wide receiver, what Josh Allen had to say after the walkthrough, as well as a little bit about this Broncos team heading into Saturday's divisional round against Denver. But, Mike, we do have to start with the news of the day being Tyrell Shavers tore his ACL on Sunday against Jacksonville.

[C]

So yesterday we found out about Gabe, but we knew that because we're at the game and you see him walk off the field, he's in the crutches, and you're like, he's started off all that. We were in the conference room today. Sean McDermott walks in for his press conference and he announces that about Shavers. And I know, I was stunned. I think everybody was stunned, absolutely, because he went back in the game. Watch the tush push. He is blocking. He's putting more effort in than some of the guys on the Jags. When Josh was being pushed down the field 11 yards, he was doing that with a torn ACL. Like, he went out on the field. He got hurt on a punt as a, you know, a guy on the outside, and it looked like that's where he got hurt. But he did get himself back into the game, was blocking during that play, and now he's done for the year.

[B]

Pretty absurd to think about his effort coming back in. And Sean McDermott talked today about what he saw out of Tyrell Shavers and what it means for this team.

[D]

I mean, he embodies what we're all about. I mean, it's. I believe it happened summer of second quarter when we went out there to look at him, and for him to then come back into the game and then for it to turn out to be what it was is remarkable. Remarkable toughness, remarkable commitment to the team.

[B]

All right, so we know Tyrell Shavers is now done for the season. When you look at this wide receiver room, what's left is Keon Coleman, a guy that's been benched many times this season, four times this year. You also have Khalil Shakir that we know has been a safety blanket. And then you have Brandon Cooks, who got here in week 13, but has been able to make some plays for this team, but where is that group at overall?

[C]

This is. I mean, there's only so much attrition you can handle as a group, and this is provided these guys stay healthy. Like, I was encouraged a little bit. I saw Gabe in the beginning of the game, and then Gabe gets hurt. Shavers has been such a steadying guy. Made a few catches. We know he blocks like they knew he was going to be out there. If he needs more snaps, they could get it to him. They're waiting now. I mean, look, you know, you have Shakira.

[B]

Mm.

[C]

Keon made a play. I will give him credit. He was asked about the play today. He's like, that's a routine play. I just made a routine play. He. He really doesn't try to make more of that. He'll always say things like that, but he hasn't been a guy you can count on. Cooks has been become that guy. So that is encouraging. But it's not just a room that doesn't have quality. It doesn't have quantity right now, and that's. That is a big issue. On a short week heading out to Denver.

[B]

It has always kind of been the Achilles heel of this team. And then to have it be that there's the injuries as well, that is a lot for this team to overcome. But Josh Allen talked after the walkthrough today about where the position is at heading into Saturday.

[A]

Yeah, obviously not an ideal situation, but I still trust that room completely. You know, whoever we bring up needs to step up, and, you know, we have full confidence that they will. This week is going to be very important throughout the practices that we have of making sure that we're getting on the same page with timing and just understanding where. Where guys can go, try to utilize their strengths to the best of our abilities. But I got no doubt that whoever's going to be up in those spots is going to do their job, step up, and then help us win or help us make plays.

[B]

Yeah. This is at the point where even Sean McDermott was asked today, like, you know, you've had so many injuries this season. It feels like that much more than the. Then even years passed and Sean was just like, yeah, that's what. We just have to deal with it. Like, that's the cards that we are being dealt. We have to figure it out. But, Mike, that is such a challenge when you're already going on a short week.

[C]

You know, I think about the way coaches react to injuries. Like, I remember we were in the press box I'm watching. Sean came out when Shavers was hurt and he does that with many players when they're injured. If he can, he comes out there and he was talking to them. And I'm thinking of the way you have to react as a coach. The feeling you have for a player, the feeling for you have for any of your players when they're hurt. It is a long term injury for him.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

But then you also have to just pivot right away and go, okay, we got to play a game in six days. Well, now less in Denver and what are we going to do with this group? And I don't know if that impacts how many wide receivers they dress in the game, how they approach the position. I really have no idea. I don't know if they call somebody up from the practice squad.

[B]

They did sign Christian Wilkerson, who was with the team during camp and throughout. So there's that.

[C]

But Steve Gosnell, I mean, he hasn't ever played Steve. So I, I have no idea they are that shorthanded at the position. And by the way, you've already gone out to other teams and brought in Gabe, you know, when he wasn't, you know, when he had been released. And then you brought in Brandon Cooks.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I don't think there's a lot of guys out there that you could bring in now to play.

[B]

Now the hope is that Curtis Samuel will be Freddy. You got to talk to him today. Right.

[C]

Look, he's saying, like, I feel better. It was good to be out with his teammates, you know, because I asked him about that. It's like, you want to ramp up, but there's no real time for it. And then you also say, like, how do you really test it? And I do think he's a player. He said, I've been in this league for a while. I know my own body. And that's true.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I think if he can, I think he will be out there. I think it's been close. Let's see if he can play. But, you know, normally they open up that window, they get a week or two to practice. There ain't no week or two to get ready.

[B]

Well, another guy that they're hoping can be ready in under a week is Ed Oliver.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

What could he be for this team?

[C]

I do think something. There are certain positions, like if you were a left tackle or a right tackle and you're expected to go out there and play 65 snaps in a game, that's asking a lot. You don't usually rotate there but at defensive line, I do think if a player can go out there and give you 15, 20 snaps, I think they would do it. I think he feels good. I ended up talking to a few people today. I talked to Ed, too, and asked him about what could happen. What about Saturday? I know it's quick, but, like, we'll see.

[D]

You know, I just. I just. I just started walking through today, so we'll see. I'm optimistic. I'm excited, but I don't know yet.

[C]

So I think he feels pretty good. He said he's feeling really good. Like, he's like. He also said, I got to spend time with my little boy, and I realize how much my wife does at home. You know, he's like, well, I love that for her. You know, she's doing all this stuff. He goes, man, that doesn't get done by itself. So it's good for some, you know.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Understanding of the way the world works. But now he's back here and he's practicing with his team, and he wants to help. I just don't know if they really will know. I think if they feel like he's not going to do more damage or could compete, yeah, I think he's going to play.

[B]

You know, what strikes me about Ed, too, is, like, for some of these guys, when they get injured, they. They're focusing on their rehab, which I know Ed was, but they're not around the team as much. Yeah, we saw Ed a lot over the last couple of practices that we were able to see him walking around him, talking with his position group, like, joking around, like. Like going through air, kind of the same types of drills. So for Ed, it's like, you know, he loves it. He's just. And for the Bill's sake, they're hoping he can be back. But you're right. I think those limited snap counts and having the ability to maybe go off of that could be huge for this.

[C]

Team because he had the bicep injury and then he had a knee. He said the knee was good, so all that's good. And shouldn't the horse guy come back against the Broncos?

[B]

Oh, I didn't even think about that.

[C]

Look at that.

[B]

Look at you.

[C]

The way it goes. That's something Dan would say.

[B]

That is speaking about the Broncos Denver elevation, that's another thing that's kind of been a. A talking point this week. Now, Josh Allen was asked about it, obviously, in Wyoming, you know, you play at elevation. He was asked essentially, like, does that help you? Or can you draw anything off of that. Is that real? And he's like, we can't focus on that. Like, we got to be prepared. Which I think there is a real element of that. And even Sean McDermott was like, yeah, that is real. Like, that exists. But I agree, you can't focus on that because at this point, that is another thing that's out of your control.

[C]

Yeah. And, you know, sometimes when people go skiing or things, right. They try to acclimate for a day or two. They're not going out early.

[B]

No, they're not.

[C]

They'll be out there Friday. They'll play on Saturday. So I do think it is real. I do think people can obsess over it a little bit. Maybe that's the wrong word, obsess. But just have it too much front of mind.

[B]

I agree.

[C]

And just play.

[B]

It is real and you can prepare for that. But also the understanding of. You can't change that. So I feel like you can't, you know, put so much thought into it and be like, oh, you know, I feel terrible. It's like a mental thing, too, right. When you don't feel well and you're like, oh, I feel terrible because of this. Sometimes you can kind of perseverate on that and be like, oh, my God, I can't believe this. But for this team, it is real.

[C]

What was that word?

[B]

Perseverate?

[C]

Is that a word?

[B]

I'm pretty sure it is.

[C]

Okay, this is in real time because I heard that and. And I thought you might be right. Let's see.

[B]

I don't even know how to spell it.

[C]

Oh, what does it mean?

[B]

Well, it doesn't. Yeah, like obsessed sounds like that word.

[C]

We can, you know. Okay, we can hold off.

[B]

My WI fi is not. Yeah. Repeat or prolong an action, thought or credit to you. Yeah, yeah. Persephone. The more you know with Buffalo plus. Okay, so that is a word. So there's that. All right. More in terms of the injury report. So Josh Kincaid, Josh Allen, Dalton Kincaid, Terrell Bernard, AJ Epanessa, Matt Milano, Greg Russo were all limited today at the Bills Walkthrough where Jordan Poyer, Max Tierston, Ty Johnson and Matt Prater did not practice today.

[C]

Yeah, I think Prater's gonna kick. I think some of those other guys. I don't think Poyer is going to play. Like, when you look at it, I mean, we see, like, unless they can play wide receiver. But it's not. It's not about that. I'm kidding. I'm just saying, like, I just. I think they are a beaten up team, but they're a resilient team. They're a tough team. And I think we're listed as full participants today.

[B]

Yes. Yep.

[C]

Yeah, Dan was out.

[B]

Dan was the limit.

[C]

But he'll be back. Dan will be back full tomorrow. Oh, he'll have some takes.

[B]

Yeah, I'm sure he will.

[C]

All right, so just so you guys know, we are going to all be out there in Denver. We'll have reports starting Thursday. Friday, we are planning on doing a live pod that you guys can see on the YouTube channel. Friday, we'll put the, we'll post it. We'll let everybody know probably around the 6:30 Eastern Time and then maybe something on the field before the game like. Yeah, we want to keep everybody engaged, get their opinions out there. So we will let you know.

[B]

All right. Anything else you want to say?

[C]

No, I don't think so. I, you know, this team, it's like they just got to make it work.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

You know, no matter who's out, no matter what's going on, the advantages will be for the Broncos. They've rested. They're at home. They don't have Josh Allen.

[B]

Yeah, that's. I think it's that simple. So we'll have to see. We'll have plenty more coverage here as the Bill is getting ready to take on the Broncos Saturday in the divisional round. From Mike Catalana, I'm Jenna Cottrell. Thank you so much for joining us. Please be sure to like, comment, subscribe and share. We will catch you next time here on the Buffalo Plus.