Ravens Week 1 opponent facing injury troubles

The Ravens are already being tested in terms of their depth. Running back Kenneth Dixon was added to the Ravens already long PUP list, and Crockett Gillmore is set to have an MRI after tweaking his hamstring in Friday’s practice. The Ravens aren’t the only one feeling the injury bug, the Ravens Week 1 opponent, the Buffalo Bills, are feeling it as well.

The Bills placed 10 players on its PUP list today as the team broke camp, and those listed are big name players too. Marcell Dareus, Sammy Watkins, Kyle Williams, Karlos Williams, and Shaq Lawson are among the names on the list.

Dareus is reported to have a non-football related illness along with another undisclosed ailment, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN. Bills’ general manager Doug Whaley said that the injury is minor. Despite not being on the field, Dareus has passed his conditioning test.

Sammy Watkins is still working on recovering from a broken foot. The team wants to make sure to ease him back in slowly, not rush him back and run the risk of re-injury. Josina Anderson of ESPN tweeted:

Source on #Bills WR Sammy Watkins who was place on the PUP list Fri.: "We are going to break Sammy in slowly, turn him loose in a week."

— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) July 29, 2016

Despite the optimism of having him back soon, it seems likely that the Bills will treat Watkins like the Ravens are treating Steve Smith, with extreme caution, and thus Watkins will likely play limited amounts, it at all in the preseason. It was clear that the Bills were less effective without Watkins in the lineup last season, and will want to make sure that he is at full strength in Week 1.

Lawson’s place on the PUP list is not surprising as Lawson is still rehabbing from a shoulder procedure in May. Lawson was the Bills’ first-round pick in this year’s draft, and the team will want to make sure that he is on the field. Lawson was a disruptive force this past year at Clemson, and he will likely boost a mediocre Bills pass rush.

Another expected non-participant was Kyle Williams, who is rehabbing from a knee surgery (meniscus tear) late last season that ended his year. Williams will likely get limited practice time but the Bills expect him to be ready to face the Ravens.

Lastly is Karlos Williams. Williams reported showed up to camp "overweight" according to Whaley (via Rodak). Whaley continued, saying Williams has to be cleared medically before he can work himself back into football shape. Rodak writes that Whaley didn’t provide much detail on Williams’ issue. Like the others, the Bills are being very cautious with Williams. Karlos Williams, like Kyle Williams, will likely see limited practice time. Rodak also writes that Whaley’s comments on Karlos Williams, "hint[ed] that Williams did not take part in a full conditioning test Friday."

Karlos Williams has a four-game suspension to start the year anyway, so he will not be playing against the Ravens no matter what.

The Bills seem optimistic that the team will get its injured star back for Week 1, let's hope the Ravens have the same luck.