Update: Dorian Strong Neck Injury "Not Progressing", "Have Had Talks"

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

8 hours ago, Brand J said:

Don’t kid yourself. Sean McDermott and the Bills know exactly what’s wrong with Strong’s neck, they just don’t want to tell you. They’re so unnecessarily cagey with injury information. A few weeks after Hairston’s knee sprain they were still “gathering information.”

 

It just amazes me how many posters here seem to feel and act like it's their inalienable right to be informed about players injuries.

[BillsShredder83]

On 10/4/2025 at 11:35 PM, Awwufelloff said:

It seems every year our DB is decimated. 

Im all for investing in a big durable corner, capable of starting, through the draft next year, anywhere outside 2nd rd. Even if Max looks like the truth this season.

 

Benford always banged up. Hairston obviously is very sleight framed. We need to have an insurance policy against them. 

[Brand J]

24 minutes ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

It just amazes me how many posters here seem to feel and act like it's their inalienable right to be informed about players injuries.

Yeah, I guess the media should never ask about injuries because what’s the point, right? 
 

Fans and media want more information than what can be found on weekly injury reports? How dare they! Maybe you can start a petition to outlaw these questions. 

Edited October 23 by Brand J

[ganesh]

1 hour ago, harmonkillebrew said:

Draft, develop, retain works if you are good at scouting and drafting talent.

Beane is not. And he overvalues his few non-busts, by rewarding them as superstars 

I agree with this so much.   We have re-signed average players to big contracts.  The Bills had the best chance to let Bernard and Groot play out their contract and then decide their worth. By giving them these 4-year contracts we are stuck with average play for those years and don't have a chance to look outside due to those big cap hits. 

 

We don't have all-pro's on this team and you need a few of them who are #1/#2 at their position to get us to that SB....Unfortunately, this team has none except for the reigning MVP who is also not playing well.

[jlatas]

2 hours ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

It just amazes me how many posters here seem to feel and act like it's their inalienable right to be informed about players injuries.

(from the interwebs...)

 

NFL teams are required by the league to be honest about player injuries, and failure to do so is a violation of the NFL's Personnel (Injury) Report Policy. Teams must list all players with reportable injuries, even if they are expected to play, and provide specific details. Penalties for non-compliance can include fines, suspensions, or loss of draft picks

 

What NFL teams must report

• Any player with a reportable injury: This includes all players who have a physical injury that could affect their availability. 
• Specifics of the injury: Teams must be as specific as possible, including the body part (e.g., "left ankle" instead of "leg"). 
• Injury status during practice: Even if a player practices fully, they must still be listed on the injury report if they have a reportable injury. 
• In-game injuries: Teams must report injuries that occur during a game as soon as the information is available. 
• Illnesses: A player's illness does not need to be disclosed unless it limits their participation in practice or the game. 

Consequences for not being honest

• Fines: The team and coaches can be fined for non-compliance. 
• Loss of draft picks: The league can penalize teams by taking away draft picks. 
• Suspensions: In severe cases, players or coaches can face suspension. 

[BillsFanForever19]

4 hours ago, jlatas said:

(from the interwebs...)

 

NFL teams are required by the league to be honest about player injuries, and failure to do so is a violation of the NFL's Personnel (Injury) Report Policy. Teams must list all players with reportable injuries, even if they are expected to play, and provide specific details. Penalties for non-compliance can include fines, suspensions, or loss of draft picks

 

What NFL teams must report

• Any player with a reportable injury: This includes all players who have a physical injury that could affect their availability. 
• Specifics of the injury: Teams must be as specific as possible, including the body part (e.g., "left ankle" instead of "leg"). 
• Injury status during practice: Even if a player practices fully, they must still be listed on the injury report if they have a reportable injury. 
• In-game injuries: Teams must report injuries that occur during a game as soon as the information is available. 
• Illnesses: A player's illness does not need to be disclosed unless it limits their participation in practice or the game. 

Consequences for not being honest

• Fines: The team and coaches can be fined for non-compliance. 
• Loss of draft picks: The league can penalize teams by taking away draft picks. 
• Suspensions: In severe cases, players or coaches can face suspension. 

 

Thank you!

 

On a different note, over the years I've seen a lot of people say that we can "manipulate" the roster through IR's and PUP's. There were even posts in this thread alleging we were doing that with Strong to make room for others.

 

And while it's true that we have "Redshirted" Rookies - there needs to be an actual injury to IR or PUP someone. It can be something small or a voluntary procedure on something small, that they then keep them on the list for. But you can't just willy nilly throw someone on a list to make room for others.

Edited October 23 by BillsFanForever19

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

18 hours ago, jlatas said:

(from the interwebs...)

 

NFL teams are required by the league to be honest about player injuries, and failure to do so is a violation of the NFL's Personnel (Injury) Report Policy. Teams must list all players with reportable injuries, even if they are expected to play, and provide specific details. Penalties for non-compliance can include fines, suspensions, or loss of draft picks

 

What NFL teams must report

• Any player with a reportable injury: This includes all players who have a physical injury that could affect their availability. 
• Specifics of the injury: Teams must be as specific as possible, including the body part (e.g., "left ankle" instead of "leg"). 
• Injury status during practice: Even if a player practices fully, they must still be listed on the injury report if they have a reportable injury. 
• In-game injuries: Teams must report injuries that occur during a game as soon as the information is available. 
• Illnesses: A player's illness does not need to be disclosed unless it limits their participation in practice or the game. 

Consequences for not being honest

• Fines: The team and coaches can be fined for non-compliance. 
• Loss of draft picks: The league can penalize teams by taking away draft picks. 
• Suspensions: In severe cases, players or coaches can face suspension. 

 

Considering the Bills don't appear to have ever been fined over this, they must be meeting the needs of the league.   What information is given to the league is also private and not publicly disclosed which is different that what posters here are asking for.  

 

It wouldn't surprise me either if in the standard NFL contract, there is something written that all player medical info can be turned over to the league, it doesn't just stay with the Bills.  In turn the league and the teams agree to not publicly disclose any of it.

 

Yes I get it, the less info that is given leads to more speculation, but doesn't mean we as fans are entitled to know.

[3rdand12]

19 hours ago, ganesh said:

I agree with this so much.   We have re-signed average players to big contracts.  The Bills had the best chance to let Bernard and Groot play out their contract and then decide their worth. By giving them these 4-year contracts we are stuck with average play for those years and don't have a chance to look outside due to those big cap hits. 

 

We don't have all-pro's on this team and you need a few of them who are #1/#2 at their position to get us to that SB....Unfortunately, this team has none except for the reigning MVP who is also not playing well.

Benford was quite good last season actually. And they spoke about having higher expectations of Groot this year and beyond.

 I am not sure those contracts were awful.

But they should have found some elite players across from them. Bosa was a good effort but no Parsons etc.

And Hairston became injured before he had a chance to prove his draft value.

 agreed with bolded

[ganesh]

8 hours ago, 3rdand12 said:

Benford was quite good last season actually. And they spoke about having higher expectations of Groot this year and beyond.

 I am not sure those contracts were awful.

But they should have found some elite players across from them. Bosa was a good effort but no Parsons etc.

And Hairston became injured before he had a chance to prove his draft value.

 agreed with bolded

When you pay huge contracts to average players, you cannot sign superstars to play opposite to them.  You either get washed up players or players that are injured. 

[BillsFanForever19]

This is worrisome wording. I hope it's not the case, but that reads like someone who may be contemplating their career.

Edited 12 hours ago by BillsFanForever19

[thewookie1]

1 minute ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

This is worrisome wording. I hope it's not the case, but that reads like someone who may be contemplating retirement.

It strikes me as an injury that may be akin or possibly slightly worse than Hyde’s injury years ago. And while Hyde did return, he only stuck around 2 years while dealing with a couple other related issues. McD is likely trying to convince the kid that football isn’t worth possibly getting paralyzed or worse based on an injury that may heighten the risk of disastrous injury 

[Big Turk]

Good chance it might be career ending I am afraid...the words McD chose to use and not use were pretty telling

 

[ScotSHO]

4 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

This is worrisome wording. I hope it's not the case, but that reads like someone who may be contemplating their career.

Spinal disc injuries are no joke - and the smaller the injured disc (cervical < thoractic < lumbar) the worse the outcome.  He may have to hang it up.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

8 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

This is worrisome wording. I hope it's not the case, but that reads like someone who may be contemplating their career.

let’s hope and pray that a full offseason might mean some improvement. Maybe just be a very long-term thing.

[Avisan]

Man, awful break for the kid.  He looked like he had real promise.  Football is a brutal sport.

[Buffalo Bills Fan]

2 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

let’s hope and pray that a full offseason might mean some improvement. Maybe just be a very long-term thing.

 

 

Agree. Hope and prayers for him. I hope lots of improvement so can play football. Feel for him.

[Shortchaz]

I hope for him: that he recovers well and has great injury insurance. He gave himself to the team and should be compensated well for his efforts. 

[Buffalo716]

On 10/22/2025 at 11:23 PM, jlatas said:

(from the interwebs...)

 

NFL teams are required by the league to be honest about player injuries, and failure to do so is a violation of the NFL's Personnel (Injury) Report Policy. Teams must list all players with reportable injuries, even if they are expected to play, and provide specific details. Penalties for non-compliance can include fines, suspensions, or loss of draft picks

 

What NFL teams must report

• Any player with a reportable injury: This includes all players who have a physical injury that could affect their availability. 
• Specifics of the injury: Teams must be as specific as possible, including the body part (e.g., "left ankle" instead of "leg"). 
• Injury status during practice: Even if a player practices fully, they must still be listed on the injury report if they have a reportable injury. 
• In-game injuries: Teams must report injuries that occur during a game as soon as the information is available. 
• Illnesses: A player's illness does not need to be disclosed unless it limits their participation in practice or the game. 

Consequences for not being honest

• Fines: The team and coaches can be fined for non-compliance. 
• Loss of draft picks: The league can penalize teams by taking away draft picks. 
• Suspensions: In severe cases, players or coaches can face suspension. 

Well it is reported 

 

They don't need to go into exact details for all of us

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

I am surprised that we haven’t see anything on his social media accounts. Give us at least some emojis to speculate over!! 

[K-9]

12 minutes ago, ScotSHO said:

Spinal disc injuries are no joke - and the smaller the injured disc (cervical < thoractic < lumbar) the worse the outcome.  He may have to hang it up.

Shades of Derrick Burroughs.