The Chargers knew Ryan Mathews would not be playing for a while (which means Branden Oliver, the University of Buffalo's all-time leading rusher, will be active for his first NFL game in Buffalo). But they had hoped he would be alone on the injury report for Sunday's game against the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Outside linebacker Melvin Ingram has a hamstring injury that will keep him out of the game. Fellow linebacker Jerry Attaochu is nursing a hamstring problem. He's questionable (50-50) to play.
If the Bolts are missing two rush linebackers, Dwight Freeney and Jarret Johnson will see a whole lot of playing time. Both men have been in the NFL for more than a decade, so they'll need to get some rest stops. Tourek Williams and Reggie Walker will have to step in and take more snaps.
Safety Jahleel Addae is also questionable with a (you guessed it) hamstring. But, after missing the first two games, Addae is closer to playing than he's been for a while.
Wide receiver Keenan Allen is also questionable after suffering a groin injury during practice this week. Losing him would be a major loss against a Bills team that has one of the best defensive fronts in the NFL, but can be vulnerable to the deep passing game.
Everyone else is expected to play for the Bolts.
Buffalo will be missing linebacker Randell Johnson and safety Jonathan Meeks. Linebacker Keith Rivers is doubtful to play, and that could cause a big problem for the Bills.
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Rivers and Johnson are listed as the top two weakside linebackers on Buffalo's depth chart. If both of them are out, the Bills will be exceedingly thin at the position, possibly relying on Larry Dean, who's in his fourth season but never started an NFL game.
