For the most part, Patriots players who have been dealing with injuries in the past week have been trending in the right direction. Milton Williams, the anchor of the vastly improved defensive line, has been nursing an ankle injury but the expectation is he will play. Cornerback Carlton Davis has an illness, but he, too, is expected to suit up Sunday night. Davis practiced despite the illness, while Williams was limited on Friday. Both are listed as questionable but are in Buffalo.
It’s a different story for pass-rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, who is in the midst of a breakout season here in his sixth year in the NFL. Chaisson is dealing with an undisclosed knee injury and will be out in Week 5, the team announced.
Linebacker Jahlani Tavai, who is coming off of the injured list with a calf injury that kept him out of the first four games of the season, is also listed as questionable, though he is expected to play.
Patriots Need to Pressure Josh Allen
It would be a blow to the Patriots in a game in which getting pressure on quarterback Josh Allen will be a key.
Chaisson is having his best year in the NFL, putting together a strong training camp and playing well through the first four games. He has shown some of the ability that once made him a first-round pick out of LSU, posting 2.5 sacks for a team that has shown more faith in him than he’d gotten in either of his past two stops, in Jacksonville and last year with the Raiders.
Patriots Lacking Depth in Pass Rush
Entering Week 4, Chaisson had played 75.9% of the Patriots‘ snaps. But in Week 4, the knee slowed him and he played just 49% of the team’s snaps against the Panthers. In his absence, demoted Patriots veterans Anfernee Jennings and Keion White will get more of a chance.
White and Jennings have struggled in reserve roles. White has a Pro Football Focus grade of 40.4, which rates 103rd out of 107 pass-rushers in the NFL. Jennings has a grade of 45.2.
K’Lavon Chaisson: Beware Bills Running Game
Chaisson did speak with reporters this week and said he’d be “excited to be out there,” if available. But alas, he won’t be. He did have advice for the Patriots, though: Beware the run game, where the Bills rank No. 1 in attempts (133) and yards (654).
That means both James Cook, who has 401 yards in four games and a league-high five touchdowns, and Allen, always a threat to run from the pocket (159 yards and three touchdowns rushing).
“Keep (Allen) contained, keep him under as much wraps as we can, but obviously he is one of the best players in the league for a reason,” Chaisson said. “Cook is a phenomenal running back himself and obviously when you have a quarterback who can move his legs as well that kinda adds to it. It’s something you can’t take for granted.
“That’s something we have emphasized heavy this week is the run game, obviously, Josh Allen is an MVP-caliber, too, so we never shy from it. But if you don’t stop the run, it’s going to be a long game for you, for sure.”
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