Although they presently enjoy a comfortable 1 ½-game lead in the AFC East, the Buffalo Bills have shown a weakness at wide receiver in the first six games of the season.
They hope Amari Cooper, who was acquired Tuesday, can change that, perhaps starting with Sunday’s visit from the Tennessee Titans at Orchard Park, N.Y.
Coming off a career-high 1,250 yards last year for Cleveland, Cooper has experienced a frustrating start to his 2024 season. In six games, he has 24 receptions for 250 yards and two touchdowns. His per-catch average of 10.4 yards is on pace for a career low and seven yards under last year’s career-best average.
However, Cooper is looking forward to bigger and better things in his fourth NFL home. Not only did he gain three games in the standings, but he’s now the target of Josh Allen instead of Deshaun Watson.
Allen has thrown 156 passes this year without an interception and Watson has endured a poor season.
“As far as playing with Josh, I’ve always been (a) fan of his game,” Cooper said. “I’m sure to see it up close and personal and play alongside him. I’m sure it’s going to be great. I’m just excited to turn a new chapter and to be able to contribute.”
The Bills haven’t had a go-to receiver this season after trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans in the offseason.
Buffalo coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday that Cooper’s status for this game is undecided. However, the Bills might have the services of running back James Cook (toe) and defensive tackle Ed Oliver (hamstring).
Cook wasn’t missed in Monday night’s 23-20 win at the New York Jets as rookie Ray Davis accumulated 152 total yards (97 rushing, 55 receiving) on 23 touches. But adding Cook and potentially Oliver, one of the league’s most disruptive interior linemen when healthy, only makes Buffalo (4-2) a tougher task. Oliver missed the past two games.
Meanwhile, Tennessee (1-4) squandered a 17-10 fourth-quarter lead last week in a 20-17 home loss to AFC South rival Indianapolis. The Titans’ sputtering offense managed only 239 total yards as quarterback Will Levis struggled again, completing only 16 of 27 passes for 93 yards.
Of more importance to Tennessee is Levis’ continued turnover troubles. His fourth-quarter interception last week was his seventh in five games and his 10th turnover overall. Levis has been playing with a shoulder injury that he sustained Sept. 30 at Miami.
None of Levis’ completions last week went to veteran receiver Calvin Ridley, who let his frustrations out with a profanity-laced postgame interview that hit social media quickly. Ridley apologized for his comments Wednesday and first-year coach Brian Callahan said he understood Ridley’s feelings.
“My message to him was simple,” said Callahan. “I’m doing everything I can to continue to keep you going and get you active early in games, late in games. … I sure as heck want him to be a huge part of what we’re doing.”
The Titans’ problems offensively are obscuring the solid work of their defense, which is ranked No. 1 in the league in total defense (248.8 yards per game) and against the pass (137.0).
Tennessee owns a 30-20 lead in the all-time series, including the postseason, which dates back to the American Football League when the Titans were known as the Houston Oilers. The Bills won the last matchup 41-7 at home two years ago.
