BLEAV in Bills: Final squad decisions looming and injuries are a problem
In this episode, Sal Maiorana and Adam Benigni discuss the impact of the Bills’ long injury list and the quarterback situation and answer questions from fans.
ORCHARD PARK – There is only one goal on the Buffalo Bills’ agenda Saturday afternoon as they conclude their preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at Highmark Stadium: Stay healthy.
Well, that’s the goal for all 32 teams on this final weekend of summer football, but it’s especially important for the Bills to be successful because their injury list is worrisome and they can’t afford to suffer too many setbacks.
For this reason, Sean McDermott – who recently read out the names of all the injured players – announced his decision to bench all the regular players and use the game only to evaluate the players who are eligible for the lower spots on the squad and for the training team.
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“The original plan was to play some of them this week, but because of the injuries and lack of availability, we’re going to take some of them out, let the other guys play and take a good look at them,” McDermott said. “It should be a good opportunity for them to show their best side and for us to evaluate that part of the squad closely.”
Of course, evaluating the offense becomes difficult considering the quarterbacks are Ben DiNucci, who was signed last week, and Anthony Brown, who was signed on Monday following injuries to Mitchell Trubisky and Shane Buechele.
The Bills will likely run the ball as often as possible, if only to run the clock and shorten the game. That’s unfortunate for players like wide receivers Tyrell Shavers, Justin Shorter, Andy Isabella and KJ Hamler and tight ends Zach Davidson and Tre McKitty as they look to make one last impression.
Here is the broadcast and betting information for Bills vs. Panthers:
When is the Bills vs. Panthers game?
- Date: Saturday, August 24
- Time: 1pm
- Location: Highmark Stadium
Who is commentating on the Bills vs. Panthers game?
- Move by move: Andrew Catalon
- analyst: Steve Tasker
- Sideline reporter: Maddy Glab
How to watch Buffalo Bills vs Carolina Panthers on TV and streaming
∎ Network TV: The game will be available locally on the following stations: WROC (Channel 8, Rochester), WIVB (Buffalo area), WSYR (Syracuse), WPNY/WFXV/WUTR (Utica); WETM/EETM (Elmira); WWTI (Watertown); WTEN/WXXA (Albany).
∎ Online streaming services: You can watch the games on NFL.com and the NFL mobile app, and you can subscribe to NFL+, the league’s streaming service. However, you can’t cast the games to your TV – you’ll have to watch them on your phone or tablet.
∎ TV streaming: You can also stream games if you have subscriptions to Spectrum, DirecTV, fuboTV, Sling, Vidgo, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV+.
Who is the favorite to win the Bills vs. Panthers game?
- Betting offer: Bills +2.5
- Over-Under: 31.5
- Money line: Bills plus 120 (bet $100 to win $120) and Panthers minus 140 (bet $140 to win $100).
On the radio: How to listen to the Bills vs. Panthers game
You can listen to SiriusXM satellite radio on channel 225 (Bills feed) and channel 380 (Panthers feed). On traditional radio, the Bills Radio Network has stations across the state. Chris Brown reports live, Eric Wood is the analyst and Sal Capaccio is the sideline reporter. The network includes:
- Rochester (WCMF 96.5 and WROC 950 AM)
- Buffalo (WGR550, 550 o’clock)
- Syracuse (WTKW 99.5/WTKV 105.5)
- Binghamton (WDRE 100.5 FM)
- Ithaca (WIII 99.9/100.3 FM)
- Bath (WVIN 98.3 FM)
- Newark (WACK 2:20 p.m.)
- Dansville (WDNY 93.9 FM)
- Elmira (WNGZ 1490 hrs)
- Auburn (WAUB 98.1 FM/1590 AM)
- Geneva (WGVA 95.9 FM, 1240 AM)
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades, including 35 years as a full-time reporter for D&C, and has written numerous books on the team’s history. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @salmaiorana. https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast
