ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — At this point in the season, the Buffalo Bills are dealing with plenty of injuries on each side of the ball, as a growing injury report would suggest.
Therefore, any sort of positive injury update is well received, especially ahead of a primetime meeting with the AFC East rival Jets. Fortunately for the Bills, a defensive leader appears closer to possibly returning.
Cornerback Taron Johnson has been out since going down in Week 1 with a forearm injury, but Thursday in Orchard Park, he practiced without a red non-contact jersey for the first time since he got hurt.
Earlier in the week, Johnson spoke about how he’s feeling, and how tough it’s been to miss the last four weeks.
“Good, I’m feeling better, and just one day at a time, just keep stacking them,” Johnson said. “I’m a football player and I’m not playing football so that feels tough when you’re not doing what you feel like you’re supposed to be doing. So just doing my best to be engaged and help the guys that are out there so we can get wins and me doing everything I can off the field to make sure that I can come back better than ever.”
Johnson was listed as limited Thursday on the team's first official injury report of the week, as was wide receiver Curtis Samuel.
Samuel (toe) did not participate in Bills practice Wednesday, so getting him back on the field was good news for a Bills wide receiver group with Mack Hollins (shoulder) also limited and Khalil Shakir (ankle) still not practicing, but doing work off to the side.
Running back James Cook (toe) was working off to the side along with Shakir, as Cook did not practice for a second straight day.
Defensive tackle Ed Oliver (hamstring) also did not practice for the second time this week. Oliver missed last Sunday's game in Houston.