Bills vs Ravens injury report: Who’s in and who’s out for Week 1 Sunday Night Football

Who’s in, who’s out ahead of kickoff

Week 1 in primetime didn’t wait to test depth charts. The final reports for Sunday Night Football set the tone: Baltimore would be without two key role players on offense, and Buffalo faced a major question in its secondary. The combined effect reshaped how both staffs built their call sheets for a national audience.

Baltimore cleared cornerback Jaire Alexander after a knee concern and removed him from the final injury list, signaling full participation going into the opener. Offensive lineman Daniel Faalele, who had been dealing with an illness, was also cleared and practiced fully late in the week.

The bigger blows were on offense. Tight end Isaiah Likely was ruled out with a foot injury that lingered from early in camp. He did not practice in the final run-up to the game, which forced coaches to rethink two-tight-end packages and red-zone concepts where Likely’s size and hands usually show up. Fullback Patrick Ricard was also out after missing time since mid-August. Ricard’s absence matters on short yardage and in the run game, where his lead blocks and motion looks help create angles at the line of scrimmage.

The Ravens listed six inactives for the opener, including running back Keaton Mitchell. With Mitchell down, the backfield leaned on other options for early-down work and pass protection. The inactive call also hinted at a plan to emphasize receiver-heavy groupings or extra linemen over a traditional fullback look.

On the other sideline, the Bills designated cornerback Tre’Davious White as doubtful because of a groin issue. White’s status was the storyline to watch through pregame warmups. If he couldn’t go or was limited, Buffalo’s coverage menu would change—fewer solo assignments on the perimeter, more help over the top, and possibly a larger snap share for depth corners and hybrid safeties.

• Cleared: Jaire Alexander (knee), Daniel Faalele (illness)
• Out: Isaiah Likely (foot), Patrick Ricard (injury)
• Inactive: Keaton Mitchell among six total
• Doubtful (Bills): Tre’Davious White (groin)

This is how September football usually looks: the playbook is ready, but the final 48 actives shape which chapters get used.

What it means for Sunday night

Likely’s absence hit Baltimore’s flexibility more than its identity. He’s the changeup at tight end—good after the catch, a matchup piece on linebackers, and a reliable chain-mover on third down. Without him, Baltimore leaned less on 12 personnel and replaced it with three-receiver sets, H-back alignments, or a sixth offensive lineman. Expect a tighter rotation at tight end, more quick-game concepts, and a heavier dose of option routes from the slot to keep the ball moving.

Ricard’s loss forces creativity in the run game. The staff typically uses him to kick out edges, lead on split zone, and disguise play-action. Without a true fullback, the alternatives are simple but different: pull the guards more, shift the point of attack with jet motion, or bring a tight end across the formation to simulate the same angles Ricard usually creates. Short yardage becomes a test of pad level and execution rather than window dressing.

Keaton Mitchell being inactive subtly changes the explosive-play math. He brings a top-end burst that can flip field position, especially on outside zone and swing screens. With him down, early-down runs likely skew more north-south, and the screen game shifts to receivers or tight ends. That also means pass protection becomes a touch more predictable for Baltimore, which can be both a blessing (consistency) and a tell (defenses can tee off) if tendencies creep in.

Clearing Jaire Alexander and Daniel Faalele stabilizes two areas that could have become pressure points. A healthy Alexander lets Baltimore keep its preferred coverage shells intact, mix press and off looks, and disguise rotations without having to protect one side with constant safety help. Faalele’s availability bolsters a line that needs to be sturdy against Buffalo’s front; being able to rotate or slide protections with a full complement of linemen reduces the risk of isolation on the edge.

For Buffalo, everything flows from White’s availability. He is their most trusted corner in vertical matchups and a steadying presence when the defensive call asks for tight man coverage on the boundary. If he’s down or limited, the Bills are more likely to play zone on early downs, bring pressure selectively, and use bracket coverage to take away first reads. It also puts more on the safeties—disguising shells pre-snap and rallying to tackle to prevent short throws from turning into chunk gains.

One quiet factor: red-zone menus. Without Likely, Baltimore may condense formations less and spread the field more inside the 20, using rub routes and motion to create leverage instead of throwing bodies at the line of scrimmage. If White can’t jam and run at full speed, Buffalo’s best counter is to disrupt timing with the rush and force throws to the sideline where the end line acts as an extra defender.

Special teams ripple effects also matter in openers. With Mitchell inactive, return duties and coverage units adjust, which can influence field position in the first quarter while both teams feel out tendencies. Baltimore’s decision to dress certain core special teamers over fringe offensive pieces often signals a desire to win the hidden yards. The Bills, if light at corner due to White’s status, must balance coverage teams with the need to keep defensive backs fresh for long drives.

Personnel groupings often tell the story of a game like this. Expect Baltimore to lean on 11 personnel (one back, one tight end) more often, sprinkle in a sixth lineman on short yardage, and use motion to manipulate linebacker eyes in place of Ricard’s lead blocking. Shot plays are still on the table, but they may come off play-action that sells gap runs without a fullback—think guard pulls and tight end sift action drawing safeties downhill.

Buffalo’s path is about communication on the back end. If White is limited, swiveling between zone landmarks and match rules without giving up explosive plays becomes the priority. That means first-contact tackling has to be clean, and nickel corners must win the two-way go in the slot. The pass rush can help by compressing the pocket rather than selling out for wide rush lanes that open scramble windows.

Context matters in Week 1. Camp ramp-ups are shorter on live reps, and soft-tissue injuries like groins and feet can linger or flare with sudden change-of-direction demands. Teams often manage those snaps conservatively in September, preferring availability in October and November over early-season heroics. That’s why the final report—who’s truly active and how often they’re used—can differ from the midweek headlines.

Bottom line for the national audience: the Bills vs Ravens injury report didn’t just list names; it nudged strategy. Baltimore had to replace a tight end’s versatility and a fullback’s muscle with formational tweaks and tempo. Buffalo had to protect its corners, keep explosive plays in front, and trust the safeties to clean up. How well each staff adapted to those constraints was always going to shape the first big-stage test of the season.