Bills’ Emmanuel Sanders returns to practice: Should he start vs. Patriots over Gabriel Davis?

Emmanuel Sanders

Buffalo Bills' Emmanuel Sanders signals first down against the New England Patriots during an NFL football game at Gillette Stadium Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)AP

Orchard Park, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott announced on Tuesday that veteran wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is practicing in full today for the first time in three weeks.

Sanders has missed three of Buffalo’s last four games. The last time he suited up was in Week 16 when he played through a knee injury to help the Bills defeat the New England Patriots, 33-21.

Practicing on Tuesday - while only in a walk-through - is a good sign that Sanders could be ready to go on Saturday night in another matchup against the Patriots.

The biggest question around Sanders’ potential return is whether he’ll be slotted back in as the starter opposite Stefon Diggs. Gabriel Davis has started in the three games Sanders has missed the last month. Sanders suffered the injury back in Week 14 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and fought through it to play two weeks later when Davis and Cole Beasley were forced to sit out after testing positive for Covid-19.

In his three starts, Davis has caught 11 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came against the Carolina Panthers in Week 15. Last week against the New York Jets in the finale, Davis had his worst game of the season. He was targeted a career-high 14 times and only hauled in three receptions for 39 yards.

According to Pro Football Focus, Davis dropped three passes in the game. Sanders only has three drops all season in 14 games (13 starts). He’s played 747 snaps this season, which is the most he’s played since 2019 when he split 842 snaps between the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers. The 34-yard-old has caught 42 passes for 626 yards and four touchdowns compared to Davis, who’s caught 35 for 549 yards and six touchdowns on only 571 snaps.

The decision will be interesting when it comes to how the Bills decide to split the snap share. Sanders is a proven veteran but Davis has been a red zone favorite for quarterback Josh Allen this season. The Bills have scored 18 touchdowns on their last 26 trips into the red zone to end the season. That’s a conversion rate of nearly 70%. The Bills spent most of the season hovered at or under 60%. Davis has at least 60 snaps in four of the Bills final five games.

Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was complementary of Davis on Monday despite his performance against the Jets. He said he’s hopeful to have Sanders back and as many guys as are healthy and ready to contribute as the Bills can have.

“I have full confidence in Gabe,” Daboll said. “He’s a good player for us.”

Davis has proven over the course of his two-year career that he can make things happen with limited opportunities. He should get his chances but it may be the kind of game where Sean McDermott trusts the experience of a guy like Sanders a little more.

READ MORE

Bills-Patriots odds: Buffalo a slight favorite for NFL playoffs; see prop bets, more

Brian Daboll & Leslie Frazier drawing HC interest, Joe Schoen requested for GM interview

Boston analyst doesn’t think Bills’ Josh Allen can best Bill Belichick, Patriots again

Is home field actually an advantage for the Bills in the playoffs?

First 5 thoughts on Bills vs. Patriots III in Wild Card playoff game

Talk about the Bills

Be sure to check out and subscribe to “Shout! The Buffalo Football Podcast” with beat writers Matt Parrino and Ryan Talbot.

Facebook | Twitter | APPLE | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE | YOUTUBE

Upgrade your NFL stuff

Sideline gear | Gameday masks | Livestream schedule | Bills gear

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.