Who the Bills protected on their practice squad for Week 9

Buffalo Bills practice squad protections ahead of their Week 9 meeting with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Bills announced their Week 9 players the team has placed on the protected portion of their practice squad via the NFL’s transaction wire on Tuesday ahead of their game with the Seattle Seahawks this weekend.

Two weeks ago, the Bills changed up the players they protected on their practice squad for the first time in over a month. But the team reverted back to keeping it the same once again.

The four players this week, who were the same as last two weeks, are:

  • OL Jordan Devey
  • CB Dane Jackson
  • DE Bryan Cox Jr. 
  • OL Jonotthan Harrison

From Weeks 3 to 6, the Bills protected the same four players, which included defensive tackle Justin Zimmer instead of Cox. The others were the same. The reason for the change is because Zimmer, who played in Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs, was signed to Buffalo’s 53-man roster. Zimmer was called up to the Bills’ roster for the game, but it was the second time he did so this season and there’s a two-game limit in regard to players doing so this season. Along with Zimmer, Cox was also called up to face the Chiefs. It was the first time Cox was called up this season.

Prior to Week 3, here’s who the Bills have protected over the course of their first two games, respectively:

Week 2

  • OL Jordan Devey
  • CB Dane Jackson
  • LB Andre Swift
  • DT Justin Zimmer

Week 1

  • OL Evan Boehm
  • DT Justin Zimmer
  • CB Dane Jackson
  • CB Cam Lewis

Boehm has since been released from Buffalo’s practice squad.

On occasion, the practice squad protections could help indicate potential injury designations to come this week. Considering there haven’t been any changes to this group much over recent weeks, we’re not getting much of that here.

For reference, check out our previous explanation on the “protected” practice squad situation, a new addition to the NFL this season, from our Week 1 coverage:

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in the United States, the NFL’s owners and players came to an offseason agreement that we’ve seen the first installment of on Tuesday evening. Each team in the league can “protect” four players on their practice squad each week.

The idea is to provide some extra depth for teams in case of a COVID-19 outbreak in a locker room late in the week prior to a Sunday or Monday game. Those four can be called up to the active roster up until Sunday morning prior to kickoff every week.

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