Monday Night Football closes out Week 5 with the Buffalo Bills visiting the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, and both teams enter the matchup with a few important injury questions.
Buffalo will be without two notable contributors, while three more players are listed as questionable. Los Angeles has a much shorter list, with only one player carrying a game designation.
Bills Injury Report vs. Rams
| Player | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ed Oliver | DL | Knee | Out |
| Joshua Palmer | WR | Shoulder | Out |
| DJ Moore | WR | Shoulder | Questionable |
| Dee Alford | CB | Ankle | Questionable |
| Landon Jackson | DL | Knee | Questionable |
Buffalo’s final Week 5 injury report confirmed that Ed Oliver and Joshua Palmer will not play Monday night. DJ Moore, Dee Alford and Landon Jackson are all listed as questionable.
Ed Oliver Ruled Out
Oliver’s absence is the biggest defensive concern for Buffalo. The veteran defensive lineman suffered a knee injury in Week 4 against New England and did not practice during the week.
Without Oliver, the Bills lose one of their best interior disruptors against a Rams offense led by Matthew Stafford. That puts more pressure on Buffalo’s edge rushers and rotational defensive linemen to create pressure without forcing the defense to blitz constantly.
Joshua Palmer Out, DJ Moore Questionable
Buffalo will also be without Joshua Palmer after he suffered a shoulder injury during practice. Head coach Joe Brady said the team was still evaluating the severity of the injury after Palmer was ruled out.
DJ Moore is also dealing with a shoulder injury and is officially questionable. Reuters reported that Moore aggravated the same shoulder issue he had been dealing with previously.
If Moore cannot go, Buffalo would be thinner at wide receiver behind its top options and could lean more heavily on Keon Coleman, Dalton Kincaid and the running backs in the passing game.
Rams Injury Report vs. Bills
| Player | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quentin Lake | S | Hip | Questionable |
Los Angeles enters the game in much better shape from an injury standpoint. The official NFL Week 5 injury report lists safety Quentin Lake as the Rams’ only player with a game designation.
Aaron Donald, Tyler Higbee, Alaric Jackson and Byron Young all appeared on the practice report during the week, but none carries an injury designation into Monday night.
Aaron Donald Cleared to Play
Donald did not practice Saturday, but he has been cleared for the game. That is a major boost for Los Angeles against Josh Allen and a Buffalo offensive line that will be tested throughout the night.
With Donald available, the Rams can attack the pocket from the interior and force Allen to move before routes fully develop.
What the Injuries Mean for Monday Night Football
The biggest injury storyline belongs to Buffalo.
Oliver’s absence affects the Bills’ ability to pressure Stafford from the middle, while the uncertainty around Moore could alter how Buffalo attacks the Rams secondary. Palmer being out removes another piece from the receiver rotation.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, enters the game much closer to full strength.
Buffalo is 3-1 and looking to respond after its first loss of the season. The Rams are 2-2 and have a chance to move above .500 at home.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC and ESPN2.
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