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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jordy McElroy

Patriots Week 17 injury report: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster ruled out vs Bills

Friday’s injury report came with both good and bad news for the New England Patriots.

The good news was that the team removed five players from the report. However, the bad news is wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was ruled out for another game with a lingering ankle injury.

Smith-Schuster hasn’t played since his breakout performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers, when he hauled in four passes for 90 yards against his former team. There was hope that he would be able to build on that performance moving forward with quarterback Bailey Zappe under center, but injuries have kept him out of commission more often than not.

It’s a tough blow for the Patriots’ already limited receiving corps, but they’ll have to continue leaning on Demario Douglas, DeVante Parker and even running back Ezekiel Elliott to get production through the air.

Here are the full injury reports for both the Patriots and Buffalo Bills on Friday:

New England Patriots

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game Status
OT Trent Brown Illness DNP DNP FP Active
S Jalen Mills Concussion DNP DNP FP Active
S Jabrill Peppers Hamstring DNP DNP LP Questionable
DL Christian Barmore Knee LP LP LP Questionable
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley Knee LP LP FP Active
DB Myles Bryant Chest LP LP LP Questionable
TE Hunter Henry Knee LP LP LP Questionable
LB Anfernee Jennings Illness LP LP LP Questionable
CB Jonathan Jones Knee LP LP LP Questionable
ST Matthew Slater Hamstring LP LP LP Questionable
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster Ankle LP DNP DNP Out
CB Shaun Wade Hip LP LP LP Questionable
T Tyrone Wheatley Knee FP FP FP Active
WR Kayshon Boutte Not injury-related/Personal DNP FP Active
RB Ezekiel Elliott Illness DNP FP Active
S Kyle Dugger LP Questionable

DNP: Did not practice; LP: Limited participation ; FP: Full participation

Buffalo Bills

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game Status
DE Leonard Floyd Wrist/Rib/Rest DNP FP Active
Edge Von Miller Vet Rest DNP FP Active
LB Terrel Bernard Ankle LP LP Active
DE A.J. Epenesa Rib LP LP FP Questionable
S Damar Hamlin Shoulder LP LP LP Questionable
S Micah Hype Neck Stinger LP LP Active
RB Ty Johnson Shoulder LP LP Active
LS Reid Ferguson Right Thumb FP FP Active
DT DaQuan Jones Pectoral FP FP FP Questionable
DB Cam Lewis Thumb FP FP Active
WR Justin Shorter Hamstring FP FP FP Questionable
LB Dorian Williams Knee FP FP Active
DE Shaq Lawson Illness DNP Active

DNP: Did not practice; LP: Limited participation ; FP: Full participation

Elliott, Kayshon Boutte, Trent Brown, Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jalen Mills being removed from the injury report gives the Patriots a fighting chance, at the very least. Sometimes, that’s all that’s needed in a clash between division rivals.

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