ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- As has become his custom, Buffalo Bills coach Joe Brady isn't ruling anyone out for Sunday's game despite multiple players missing most or all of this week's practices.
That said, preparation for this particular matchup against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium comes with a few extra contingencies.
Brady ruled several players as questionable, including starters like receiver DJ Moore (shoulder), right tackle Spencer Brown (back) and nickel Dee Alford (ankle).
Brown did not practice this week, while Alford missed practice Thursday and Friday. Moore was present for all three practices but donned a non-contact jersey.
Alford's potential absence creates the most complications as the Bills will be without safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who'll be serving a one-game suspension stemming from his spitting incident in Week 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders. When Alford was injured earlier in the season, the Bills turned to safety Damar Hamlin to fill his spot. With Brady starting for Gardner-Johnson on Sunday, the plan at nickel is more variable.
"There's a lot of possibilities that we've played this year with," Brady said Friday. "We have a lot of thoughts. But these are things you don't have to think about when Dee's out there."
Ravens star receiver Zay Flowers lines up in the slot for more than half of his snaps. The Bills were not shy about giving No. 1 cornerback Christian Benford some slot reps in their most recent game as he shadowed tight end Brock Bowers, and Brady said other outside cornerbacks including Maxwell Hairston have the capability of bumping inside as needed.
As for Brown, he jokes he took enough medication to "sedate a small elephant" in order to take the field against the Raiders. He said that during the ensuing bye week, however, the lingering back issues and the aftereffects of playing in Week 6 "bit (him) in the butt a little bit."
Brown said this week that "I can be ready whenever."
Moore has not played since Week 4, but he indicated earlier in the week that the time away did him some good and helped put him "in the best spot for the team."
In addition, the Bills will also list tight end Dalton Kincaid and defensive lineman Greg Gaines as questionable. Kincaid has practiced this week in a non-contact jersey, while Gaines sustained an injury during Friday's practice.