ORCHARD PARK — A cast is stuffed in Amari Cooper’s left glove. The bulge of the immaculate white cast blends in with his all-white glove, but it’s the reason Cooper hasn’t played the last two games.
The Buffalo Bills wide receiver’s workload at practice didn’t seem any different than it has been since injuring the wrist while making a block against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8. Cooper was once again listed as limited on Thursday’s injury report and he went through all individual drills during the portion of practice open to the media.
But after practice, Cooper offered some hopeful news for an offense that sorely needs him back on the field.
While the Bills have called him day-to-day since the injury, Cooper said he feels like he can play against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday and it would provide a major boost. Bills coach Sean McDermott already ruled out receiver Keon Coleman (wrist) for Sunday and tight Dalton Kincaid (knee) did not practice for a second consecutive day.
Cooper previously said he was attempting to manage pain in his wrist and that there were no problems gripping the ball, but has also maintained the No. 1 obstacle was catching the ball with the cast on. If Cooper does play this week, he will wear the cast under his glove.
“It felt good,” Cooper said about catching passes during practice. “Like I said, I don’t really feel pain or anything catching the ball. I’ve just got to get used to it — catching the ball with it.”
Quarterback Josh Allen threw for 280 yards last week against the Indianapolis Colts despite not having Coleman and Cooper, while Kincaid left the game before halftime. Khalil Shakir (12 catches for 108 yards) and Mack Hollins (nine grabs for 116 yards) have been Buffalo’s leading receivers the past two outings.
The Chiefs boast the No. 3 NFL defense. They also have the No. 3 run defense, which means the Bills may have to throw the ball more and Cooper would be a major addition to the passing game.
“I’m not that familiar with (the Bills-Chiefs rivalry) in terms of obviously playing in the actual games,” Cooper said, “but as a football player, seeing the games, it’s just like one of the great rivalries that pretty much occur in all major sports between two teams who’ve been playing at a high level for a long time.”
Van Demark in line for first start as Brown sits out again
Ryan Van Demark got his legs moving at a speed that defies logic for a 6-foot-6, 307-pound man.
When the ball was snapped, Van Demark was lined up at right tackle, more than 20 yards to Shakir’s left. By the time Shakir caught Allen’s screen pass and turned upfield, Van Demark was already a step ahead.
Van Demark paved the way for Shakir, knocking down Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin 11 yards downfield and then shoved safety Nick Cross out of the way 15 yards later. Allen called Shakir’s 30-yard gain on third and 8 with 7 minutes left the biggest play of the game and it wouldn’t have happened without Van Demark, who was subbing for starter Spencer Brown.
Brown missed eight plays after twisting his right ankle on a drive that ended with a Ty Johnson touchdown catch. He returned to finish the game, but has not practiced this week and was wearing a heavy brace over his cleat.
Now Van Demark could be in line for his first career start against the unbeaten Chiefs. Van Demark is in his third season with the Bills, his second on the active roster after spending his rookie season on the practice squad after going undrafted out of Connecticut and spending training camp 2022 with the Colts.
Van Demark was the team’s No. 3 tackle last season and appeared to reprise that role during training camp, but he was a healthy scratch during the first three games of the season, falling behind rookie Tylan Grable.
After Grable went on injured reserve for abdominal injury suffered during a Week 3 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Van Demark has moved back into his old role. Van Demark played 47 offensive snaps last season and 27 this year.
“Me starting this week is a possibility and I’m just treating it like every other week,” Van Demark told the Gazette Thursday. “We’re just preparing like it’s another team and we’re not focusing on all the hype, just my matchups and staying in my box.”
If Brown is not able to play Sunday, it would snap a streak of 35 consecutive games (all starts) dating back to Week 9 of 22. Prior to his injury Brown played all but three snaps since missing his last game.
It would also be the first time the Bills had a different five-man unit for the first time in 1 ½ season, as the Bills played the same five starters in every game last season, and after center Mitch Morse was released during the offseason, Connor McGovern shifted to center and David Edwards slid in at left guard, giving the Bills the same five starters in the first 10 games this season.
Brown signed a four-year, $72 million extension days before the season began and has served as Allen’s enforcer. He received a $12,000 fine for sticking up for Allen, earning a taunting penalty when he felt Cross hauled down Allen late on a 13-yard touchdown run.
When it comes to playing Sunday, McDermott was hopeful Brown could play and Brown said Wednesday that “it’ll be interesting.”
Van Demark’s first potential start would come against one of the league’s most complex defenses. Although the Chiefs are 26th in the NFL with 19 sacks, they are first in quarterback knockdown percentage (14.1), 10th in pressure percentage (26.7) and third in blitz percentage (34.5).
“See where it gets to be on Sunday and if I can,” Brown said. “But it’s not like we have another game to play (for two weeks) after that. So I’m down to beat the hell out of it a little bit and then rest on the bye.”
NOTES: LB Matt Milano (biceps) participated in his first regular season practice in more than 13 months. … He wore a red non-contact jersey and was officially listed as limited.