ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills on Friday ruled out starting safety Jordan Poyer and starting tight end Dawson Knox from playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend.
Poyer, who leads the NFL with four interceptions, will miss his second game in three weeks, this time due to an injury to his ribs. Knox will miss his first game this season due to foot and hamstring injuries.
The Bills are 3-1, while the Steelers (1-3) have lost three straight and are turning to rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett to make his first career start.
Also ruled out for a second consecutive week were cornerback Christian Benford (broken hand), and backup receivers Jake Kumerow (high ankle sprain) and Jamison Crowder (broken ankle).
On the bright side, receiver Isaiah McKenzie (concussion) practiced fully Friday and is listed as questionable. Also questionable are defensive tackles Ed Oliver (ankle) and Jordan Phillips (hamstring) and starting linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (hamstring)
Poyer’s injury depletes an already thin secondary, with fellow starting safety Micah Hyde placed on season-ending IR two weeks ago because of a neck injury.
The Josh Allen-led offense will also be minus several targets, with the team currently carrying three healthy receivers, not including McKenzie.
SERIES NOTES: This is the fourth straight year the non-division, Rust Belt rivals meet, with Buffalo winning two of the past three. ... The Steelers took advantage of a blocked punt returned by Ulysees Gilbert for a touchdown to spark a 23-16 win in the season opener last year. ... The Bills had lost six consecutive meetings and 10 of 11 before a 17-10 win over the Steelers on Dec. 15, 2019.