Bills' defensive captain will miss regular season finale nursing new injury

Buffalo Bills' head coach Sean McDermott revealed that linebacker Terrel Bernard is dealing with injury.
Dec 29, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard (43) and Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano (58) tackle New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin (83)
Dec 29, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard (43) and Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano (58) tackle New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin (83) / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Bills did not escape their Week 17 win completely unscathed on the injury front.

Starting linebacker Terrel Bernard apparently tweaked his quad muscle in the 40-14 victory over the New York Jets on December 29, and he's unavailable as the team prepares for its anti-climatic regular season finale.

"A leg, like a quad to be more specific," said head coach Sean McDermott prior to Wednesday's practice in Orchard Park.

Bernard, one of the team's two captains, played 37 of a possible 63 snaps against the Jets.Outside of safeties Taylor Rapp and Cole Bishop, no Bills' defensive starter played more than 40 snaps in the runaway win.

With Buffalo locked into the AFC's No. 2 seed, Bernard will focus on recovery being the team's Week 18 result has no bearing on playoff positioning.

Terrel Bernard tackles to the ground
Bills Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano tackle 49ers Kyle Juszczyk during first half on Dec. 1, 2024. / Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"He will not play this week," said McDermott. "I really don't know if he was healthy enough, would he be able to go? Possibly. It's probably somewhere between day to day and week to week, more like day to day."

RELATED: Bills defense comes up big in win over Jets

Despite being hampered by a pectoral problem at one point, Bernard made 13 starts for the Bills this season. He totaled 104 tackles, two interceptions and 1.0 sack. His focus will presumably turn to recovering in time for the AFC Wildcard Round.

Bernard's absence, coupled with Baylon Spector on injured reserve, means undrafted rookie Joe Andreessen will see a lot of action against the New England Patriots on January 5. Andreessen, who didn't enter until the fourth quarter, finished the Week 17 win as the team's leading tackler.

Joe Andreessen tackle
Aug 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Bills linebacker Joe Andreessen (44) tackles Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) / Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

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