PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir is “week-to-week” with a high right ankle sprain and was not in attendance at Sunday’s practice, coach Sean McDermott said.
“[Shakir has] dealt with [a high ankle injury] before,” McDermott said. “He’s extremely tough. Big part of our offense. So, it’s going to take some time. High ankles normally do. So, it’s an opportunity for, again, somebody else to show us what they’ve got, and we will see how that goes.”
Shakir, 25, was MVP Josh Allen’s top target last year, leading the Bills in receiving yards (821), catches (76) and targets (100). He received a four-year contract extension this offseason.
He suffered the injury during Friday night’s practice, leaving early with athletic trainers. The team had an off day Saturday before resuming practice at St. John Fisher University on Sunday.
The Bills’ receiving corps has dealt with a plethora of injuries in the first week of training camp. Curtis Samuel and Kaden Prather continue to be held out of practice with hamstring injuries, and Joshua Palmer has been sidelined with a groin injury.
Starting safety Taylor Rapp (knee) was also added to the injury report. He missed Sunday’s practice alongside fellow safety Cole Bishop (quad), who has not practiced since sitting out of much of Tuesday’s session.
Right tackle Spencer Brown (back) and linebacker Terrel Bernard (hamstring) returned to practice Sunday and participated in individual drills.
Others missing time include offensive linemen Alec Anderson (left knee scope) and Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (calf), fullback Reggie Gilliam (groin), kicker Tyler Bass (pelvic area soreness), linebackers Shaq Thompson (hamstring) and Dorian Williams (calf).
McDermott has adjusted practice due to the number of injuries.
“What we’ve tried to do is pull back on some things in the hopes of getting some numbers back,” McDermott said. “That hasn’t helped, so we’re moving forward. It’s time for us to go and we got to get some work done and move this team forward.
“… We’re down to a group and a half. It’s not conducive. So we got to do what we need to do to move our team forward and get them ready to perform.”
The Bills open their preseason slate against the New York Giants on Saturday.
