ESPN

‘Bernard has been listed on the injury report since being injured in Week 7 win over the Tennessee Titans. The ankle injury, combined with a lingering pectoral injury and a personal matter he has been dealing with, led the Bills to rule him out. He is back with the team after being excused to deal with he personal matter, McDermott said.’

‘”Yeah, of course. I mean, I think that’s why they traded for me, definitely ready for an increased role, definitely ready for more opportunities,” Cooper said Thursday when asked about being ready for more of a role. “I’m ready to pounce on it.”‘

‘Buffalo has shown improvement in recent years toward the end of the season — the Bills were an NFL-best 14-2 in the regular season in December and January from 2021 to 2023 — which is a positive sign. However, the team has also demonstrated some discouraging trends this season — reasons for concern with difficult matchups still to come.’

‘”Coooooop” echoed around the stadium in response.’

‘Buffalo got the ball at the Titans’ 44-yard line after a failed fourth-down conversion attempt from Tennessee. The Bills’ offense then went 41 yards on six plays, including an impressive catch near the sideline by tight end Dalton Kincaid, ending with a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Josh Allen to Cooper in his first game with the team after being traded from the Browns on Tuesday.’

‘Davis is questionable for Sunday’s game (1 p.m. ET, CBS), the first in Orchard Park in almost a month, with a calf injury.’

‘”Yeah, it does. It does 100% for several reasons actually,” the 30-year-old Cooper said. “It’s just that feeling of having a fresh beginning, a new start, a blank canvas that you get to control your destiny, you know?”‘

‘Cooper, 30, fills the No. 1 receiver void for the Bills that was opened when Buffalo traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans before the season.’

‘The unit was saved in the game by two missed field goals by Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein in the second half, in addition to a strong red zone defense that allowed the Jets to convert on 1-of-4 red zone trips.’

‘”I won’t lie, Monday nights are a little bit more meaningful to me, but I’m so deep into my process that maybe when it’s all said and done and I’m back reflecting and I’m doing whatever I’m doing after I’m done playing, and watching ‘Monday Night Football’ [will] probably be a lot more special to me,” Hamlin said.’

‘Cook suffered the toe injury during the Week 5 loss to the Houston Texans and did not participate in practice early in the week. Cook was limited in the team’s final practice of the week.’

‘”The NFL and NFLPA have reviewed the reports from the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant and Booth Spotters and those reports confirm that the steps required by the concussion protocol were followed in the evaluation and clearance of Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen in last Sunday’s game,” the sides said in a statement. “The protocol has been jointly developed and is jointly administered by the NFL and NFLPA. Under that program the parties jointly identify, retain and train the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultants and Booth Spotters.”‘

‘”The guys, they talk, we talk and we’re entertainers and I’m for sure an entertainer. So, I’m going to entertain it. And why not? I like tension and that’s what I do,” Dawkins said. “‘Showman is going to cause some tension cause that’s what it is. Like who wants to play when, when everybody’s friends? Like let’s push ourselves.”‘

‘”That’s on me, the end-of-game situation on offense,” McDermott said after the 23-20 loss. “We’re in a tough situation … they were holding three timeouts; they got a good field goal kicker. We needed to run the clock and move the chains, and that’s on me. We didn’t do that there, and that’s my fault.”‘

‘”[Allen’s] been very consistent, consistent in his performance on the field, consistent in his approach, consistent in his just willingness to take what the defense is giving him,” coach Sean McDermott said after Week 3. “… Season’s young, and so I’m looking forward to how he’s going to continue to do that. He’ll be defended a little bit different week to week. But you know, his just, his maturation … His development has been fun to watch.”‘