The Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens are already managing injuries before the 2025 season even kicks off.
Buffalo faces major uncertainty in the secondary and will be tested for depth along the interior defensive line, while Baltimore could be without several key contributors.
The Bills host the Ravens at 8:20 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7 at Highmark Stadium on Sunday Night Football.
Neither of Buffalo’s starting cornerbacks has practiced since Aug. 21. Christian Benford has been sidelined with an undisclosed issue, while Tre’Davious White is recovering from a lower leg injury. White was expected to start after rookie first-round pick Maxwell Hairston went down with a knee injury at a July 29 training camp practice.
Buffalo defensive tackle DeWayne Carter is out for the year after tearing his Achilles last week.
Baltimore tight end Isaiah Likely is not expected to play in the opener. Likely has been sidelined since July 29, when he fractured his foot during a one-on-one drill at practice. He was carted off the field and underwent surgery, with an initial recovery timeline of about six weeks. That timetable lines up with Sept. 9, two days after the opener.
NFL teams have to submit a report on practice participation on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for a Sunday game. There are three levels of practice participation that can be designated: did not participate, limited participation and full participation.
A game status report is due by 5 p.m. Friday for Sunday games.
Here is the Bills vs. Ravens injury report for Week 1:
Buffalo Bills injury update for Week 1
Christian Benford, CB, groin
Benford hasn’t practiced since Aug. 21 due to a groin injury, though he’s been spotted working on the side with a trainer.
Benford signed a four-year, $69 million contract extension in the offseason after a season which he ranked sixth among 222 qualifying cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus. Benford had 64 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and 10 passes defended in 2024.
“We’ll see,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday when asked if Benford will play in Week 1.
Status: Not on final injury report. Limited participant Wednesday; full participant Thursday and Friday.
Tre’Davious White, CB, groin
Tre’Davious White has been out since suffering a non-contact injury at practice at Highmark Stadium on Aug. 21. He hobbled to the sideline, walked into the tunnel and then was carted to the fieldhouse locker room.
On Aug. 23, Bills general manager said White had “a little lower leg injury.” The Bills kept White on their 53-man roster and didn’t put him on injured reserve, which comes with a minimum of four missed games.
Beane told the media after roster cuts he’s not ruling out White for Week 1.
“We’re rehabbing him as much as we can,” Beane said on Aug. 27. “Tre’s got a great attitude, he’s attacking it. Really other than that, we’re just going to take it day by day.”
Bills head coach Sean McDermott said White will not practice Monday but he isn’t ruling him out for Week 1.
Status: Doubtful. Did not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
Tyler Bass, K, left hip/groin
Status: Placed on injured reserve. Limited participant Wednesday; did not practice Thursday or Friday.
Khalil Shakir, WR, ankle
Status: Limited participant Wednesday
DeWayne Carter, DT, Achilles
DeWayne Carter suffered a torn Achilles last week and will miss the entire 2025 season.
Carter, a 2024 third-round pick, recorded 14 tackles, five tackles for loss, three quarterback hits and a pass defended in 11 games last year.
Status: Did not practice Wednesday and Thursday
Elijah Moore, WR, personal
Status: Not on final injury report. Not listed Wednesday; did not practice Thursday; full participant Friday.
Buffalo Bills injured reserve
Maxwell Hairston, CB, knee
The rookie first-round pick suffered a right LCL sprain at training camp practice on July 29. Hairston was off crutches about two weeks later.
Buffalo placed him on injured reserve with a designation to return tag, meaning he’ll miss at least the first four games of the season before he can return.
Hairston is eligible to return at home against the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football in Week 5 on Oct. 5.
Tylan Grable, OL, concussion
The 2024 sixth-rounder has been in the concussion protocol since Aug. 7 and is also on IR with a return designation.
Baltimore Ravens injury update for Week 1
Isaiah Likely, TE, foot
Isaiah Likely is not expected to play in Week 1, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. His absence would leave Lamar Jackson without a key red-zone target.
Likely fractured his foot during a July 29 drill and underwent surgery. The initial six-week recovery timeline would run through Sept. 9, just after the opener.
Baltimore head coach Jim Harbaugh was asked for an update on Likely on Sept. 1.
“That’s probably one I’m not going to share,” Harbaugh said.
Likely, entering his fourth year, had 42 receptions for 477 yards and six touchdowns in 2024.
Status: Out. Did not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
Jaire Alexander, CB, knee
Jaire Alexander signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens on June 18, nine days after he was released by Green Bay.
Alexander has missed the last seven games of the 2024 season with a knee injury with the Green Bay Packers. He practiced part of the second half of the season before Green Bay said Alexander has swelling in the knee and underwent season-ended arthroscopic surgery.
The two-time All-Pro has been out of practice since Aug. 9. Alexander has missed 20 of 34 games over the last two years.
Status: Not on final injury report. Limited participant Wednesday; full participant Thursday and Friday.
Patrick Ricard, FB, undisclosed
Patrick Ricard has been out since Aug. 14. The five-time Pro Bowler is coming off his first year as a first-team All-Pro.
Status: Out. Did not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
Daniele Faalele, G, illness
Status: Not on final injury report. Limited participant Wednesday; full participant Thursday and Friday.
Baltimore Ravens injured reserve
Baltimore Ravens non-football injury/illness
Baltimore Ravens physically unable to perform
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills vs. Ravens injury update: Starters in jeopardy for primetime opener
Reporting by Ryan Miller, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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