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Alaina Getzenberg, ESPN
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills will be without starting middle linebacker Terrel Bernard for the team’s Week 8 game against the Seattle Seahawks because of an ankle injury, per coach Sean McDermott.
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.
This will be the third game Bernard has missed this season because of injury. Bernard — a team captain — is second on the team in run stop win rate (40.5%) and second in tackles per game (6.4) as the Bills prepare to face Seattle running back Kenneth Walker III. Third-year linebacker Baylon Spector is expected to start in Bernard’s place.
“There was a few weeks there where [Bernard] was out … so I thought he did a real nice job for us, leading the defense, the communication piece that goes with that middle linebacker position,” McDermott said.
Wide receiver Curtis Samuel (pectoral) and rookie defensive tackle DeWayne Carter (wrist) are also ruled out for the game vs. the Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox). Both were present during the portion of practice open to the media on Friday — Carter in uniform and Samuel not. McDermott said Samuel might miss more than one week but that he doesn’t think the receiver will go on injured reserve, while Carter will get surgery on his wrist.
Carter, who has been key depth at defensive tackle this season and started two games when starter Ed Oliver was injured, was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday.
“We were trying to see how [Carter] was able to deal with things,” McDermott said. “He’s gonna end up having to get surgery, so he will be out multiple weeks. … We’ll just see where [it goes with putting him on IR]. … I don’t know if we’re there yet, but there’s a good chance of that.”
