Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills will, once again this season, be on the lookout for a new punter after Cameron Johnston is set to "miss some time" with foot and ankle injuries, according to head coach Sean McDermott.
Johnston was injured in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 31-19 win over the New Orleans Saints at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. The 32-year-old was rolled up on after booting a punt that resulted in a roughing the kicker penalty against the Saints and an automatic first down for the Bills.
In his three games this season with the Bills, Johnston had punted seven times, averaging 44 yards per-punt and pinning the opponent inside their 20-yard line twice.
Johnston was signed by the Bills shortly following the team's Week 1 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Buffalo had decided to let go of punter Brad Robbins, who was with the team throughout the entirety of training camp and the preseason.
During his weekly Monday press conference with the media, McDermott said the team will bring in a number of punters to work them out ahead of this Sunday night's matchup with the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium.
Meanwhile, McDermott provided a brief update on a number of other injuries the team faces ahead of its Week 5 prime-time showdown with New England.
McDermott says right tackle Spencer Brown (calf), linebacker Matt Milano (pec) and defensive tackle Ed Oliver (ankle) all continue to move in the right direction with their injuries. However, the Bills will continue to take their ailments "day-to-day", and there's no answer as to whether any of them are a possibility to play this week.
In addition, this week is the first week of the season for players who started the year on Injured Reserve with the designation to return can practice and possibly play. This includes first-round rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston (knee), tackle Tylan Grable (concussion) and kicker Tyler Bass (hip/groin).
However, McDermott did not indicate on Monday whether or not any of the three players are close to re-joining the team this week at practice.
Once any of those players have officially been designated to return, they have 21 days to be activated to the 53-man roster. If not, they will be reassigned to Injured Reserve and must remain out the rest of the season.
One other note for the Bills this week is suspended defensive linemen Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi are both eligible to return to practice with their teammates after serving the first four of their six-game suspensions to start the year.
The Bills will begin preparations for the Patriots when they return to practice on Wednesday in Orchard Park.
Related
