Bills Place WR Josh Palmer On IR

Palmer will miss at least four games with this injury, the former Charger’s latest since he joined the Bills on a three-year, $30MM contract in 2025. He totaled five absences during the regular season last year and and finished with 22 catches, 303 yards and no touchdowns in 12 games. Palmer went on to miss the Bills’ two playoff games after he landed on IR with a sprained ankle in early January.

The Bills no doubt hoped Palmer would stay healthy and begin justifying his payday this season, but it hasn’t worked out so far. While Palmer has hauled in a pair of touchdowns and averaged 29.3 yards per catch, he has only caught four of 12 targets in six games.

The 27-year-old came up in trade rumors in late October, but this IR stint will likely kibosh any chance of general manager Brandon Beane moving Palmer before Tuesday’s trade deadline. Even if healthy, Palmer would have had minimal trade value. However, the Bills would have saved $9MM in cap space this season had they found a taker. Buffalo is going into deadline day with just $3.93MM in cap room, and Beane is known to be eyeing defensive upgrades. Considering Palmer hasn’t even made a start this year, Beane might not consider his loss serious enough to warrant trading for a wideout.

If Beane stands pat at receiver on Tuesday, the Bills will have D.J. Moore, Keon Coleman, slot target Khalil Shakir, Greg Dortch and rookie fourth-rounder Skyler Bell on their active roster. Tyrell Shavers, who has been on the reserve/PUP list all season, could return soon from the ACL tear he suffered last January. The Bills designated Shavers for return on Oct. 28, giving them until Nov. 18 to activate him. Sherfield, Stephen Gosnell and Ja’Mori Maclin represent the Bills’ practice squad options.