Sep 15, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA;  Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) runs onto the field before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images

WR Amari Cooper expected to make Bills debut Sunday

The Buffalo Bills expect newly acquired wide receiver Amari Cooper to make his debut for the team Sunday against the visiting Tennessee Titans.

Cooper, 30, came to the Bills via trade from the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday. Originally, the team was undecided on whether he would play against the Titans, but coach Sean McDermott sounded more certain of a plan Friday.

“We’ll see. I think so,” McDermott said when asked if Cooper would play this week for the Bills (4-2).

McDermott said he will confer with the coaching staff before making a final decision.

Coming off a career-high 1,250 receiving yards last year for Cleveland, Cooper got off to a slow start this season. In six games, he had 24 receptions for 250 yards and two touchdowns. His per-catch average of 10.4 yards is on pace for a career low and 7 yards under last year’s career-best average.

Now with his fourth NFL franchise, Cooper gets an upgrade at quarterback from Deshaun Watson to Josh Allen, who has thrown 156 passes this year without an interception.

“As far as playing with Josh, I’ve always been (a) fan of his game,” Cooper said this week. “I’m sure to see it up close and personal and play alongside him. I’m sure it’s going to be great. I’m just excited to turn a new chapter and to be able to contribute.”

The Bills haven’t had a go-to receiver this season after trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans in the offseason.

Buffalo also is expected to have defensive tackle Ed Oliver (hamstring) on the field. Oliver, 26, was inactive for each of the past two games. He has a sack among his five tackles in four games this season.

“I expect him at this point to play in the game,” McDermott said Friday of Oliver.

Running back James Cook (toe) also is expected to play, while running back Ray Davis is now limited after coming away with a calf injury in practice Thursday.

The Bills will stick with struggling kicker Tyler Bass after multiple kickers were brought in for a tryout Wednesday before Lucas Havrisik was signed to the practice squad. Bass, 27, has converted nine of 12 field goals and 18 of 20 extra points this season.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (10) runs with the ball after making a catch for a touchdown against Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback 	Christian Braswell (21) during the first half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Bills WR Khalil Shakir, DT Ed Oliver out vs. Texans

Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir, defensive tackles Ed Oliver and Austin Johnson and safety Taylor Rapp have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the host Houston Texans, Buffalo coach Sean McDermott announced Friday.

Shakir (ankle), Johnson (oblique) and Rapp (concussion protocol) did not practice all week after sustaining their respective injuries in the Bills’ 35-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday. Oliver, however, sustained a hamstring injury during practice on Thursday.

Shakir leads the Bills in catches (18), receiving yards (230) and receiving touchdowns (two). Tight end Dalton Kincaid has 13 catches for 132 yards and wideout Keon Coleman has eight and 126, respectively.

Rookie Cole Bishop is expected to be elevated into a starting role opposite safety Damar Hamlin with Rapp sidelined. Bishop is a second-round pick out of Utah.

–Field Level Media

Dec 10, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Isaiah Oliver (26) during the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

49ers release CB Isaiah Oliver, save $2.4M

The San Francisco 49ers announced Friday that they released veteran cornerback Isaiah Oliver.

Oliver, 27, was released after one season of the two-year, $6.75 million deal he signed last March. According to Spotrac, the 49ers cleared $2.4 million of cap space with the move.

San Francisco began Friday just $4.625 million under the salary cap.

Oliver played in 17 regular-season games (six starts) for the 49ers and had 67 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery. He didn’t see any playing time on defense during San Francisco’s three postseason games with all 35 snaps coming on special teams.

Oliver was a second-round draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2018 and spent five seasons with the franchise. He started 38 of 62 games played for Atlanta before leaving as a free agent following the 2022 season.

Overall, Oliver has 270 tackles, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and two sacks in 79 games (44 starts).

–Field Level Media

Oct 16, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons safety Jaylinn Hawkins (32) reacts after an interception against the San Francisco 49ers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Arthur Smith ‘confident’ in Falcons’ secondary despite injuries

The Atlanta Falcons (3-3) hit the road to take on the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) Sunday with injury concerns in the secondary.

Starting cornerbacks A.J. Terrell (thigh) and Casey Hayward (shoulder) left the 28-14 win over San Francisco in the second half and did not return. Head coach Arthur Smith didn’t think Terrell’s injury was too serious, but he was less optimistic about Hayward’s status moving forward.

“The one to be concerned about is Casey (Hayward),” Smith said. “He’s the one we’re more worried about long-term.”

Terrell has been a standout for an opportunistic Falcons’ secondary that ranks tied for seventh in the NFL in interceptions (six) — and is fresh off one of its best performances.

In the absence of Terrell and Hayward, second-year pro Darren Hall (two pass breakups) stepped in and played well. So did Isaiah Oliver, who recorded three tackles and an interception after missing the team’s first five games.

“We are confident in our guys,” Smith said. “Guys stepped up and played really well. Darren did. He made a huge play on that ball to (Brandon) Aiyuk. He showed good patience and body control making that play.”

Starting safeties Richie Grant (41) and Jaylinn Hawkins (31) rank third and fourth on the team in tackles and continue to improve. Hawkins recorded his first interception of the year against the 49ers and also scored a touchdown after Terrell fumbled near the goal line following a fumble recovery.

It’s still unclear how the injuries to Terrell and Hayward will impact this week’s game against the Bengals. No matter who suits up, the Falcons will be challenged by a Cincinnati offense that features quarterback Joe Burrow and a dynamic trio of wideouts in Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd.

“We’ve got a challenge with Cincinnati and their personnel, especially with as much as they like to play in 11 personnel,” Smith said. “They have really good wideouts. And a really good quarterback.”

–After not playing against Tampa Bay, tight end Kyle Pitts caught three passes for 19 yards and his first touchdown of the season in the win over San Francisco. Pitts’ reputation as a weapon in the passing attack is a big reason why opposing defenses have to account for him it all times. But his emergence as a blocker has fueled the Falcons’ success in the run game.

“The affect he has on every play, you have to account for him,” Smith said. “Last year, we didn’t have a ton of runs behind him. We are running behind him a lot now. He draws a lot of attention. And he has an impact on every play he’s out there. He’s a very smart player.”

–Punt/kick returner Avery Williams has shone on special teams. He’s a big reason why the Falcons lead the league in punt return average (17.8 yards per return) and rank fourth in kick return average (24.8 yards per return).

–Field Level Media

Sep 11, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Dontrell Hilliard (40) scores a touchdown during the third quarter at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Nelles-USA TODAY Sports

Titans rule out RB Dontrell Hilliard, CB Kristian Fulton

Tennessee Titans running back Dontrell Hilliard and cornerback Kristian Fulton will miss Monday night’s game at Buffalo with hamstring injuries, coach Mike Vrabel said Saturday.

The Bills also made additions to their injury list on Saturday, listing defensive tackle Ed Oliver as out and wide receiver Gabe Davis as questionable. Both have ankle injuries.

Hilliard, 27, caught three passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns in the Titans’ season-opening 21-20 loss against the New York Giants. He rushed twice for 8 yards.

Fulton, 24, recorded six tackles and forced a fumble against the Giants.

Oliver, 24, played just 17 snaps in the Bills’ season-opening win against the Los Angeles Rams. He recorded two tackles and one quarterback hit.

Davis, 23, made four catches for 88 yards and scored a touchdown in the Bills’ 31-10 victory in Week 1.

Titans backup offensive lineman Jamarco Jones (elbow) was also ruled out for the primetime game.

–Field Level Media