The Buffalo Bills defeated the Arizona Cardinals 34-28 in their home opener. Their pass defense played well against the Cardinals, allowing 146 passing yards. Kyler Murray completed 21 passes on 31 attempts for 161 yards and one touchdown, and rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. was held to one catch on three targets for four yards.
The Bills play against their divisional rivals, the Miami Dolphins, at Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday night for the first Prime Video game of the 2024 season. Both teams have played against each other 121 times, including five playoff games, as the Dolphins have won 62 times, while the Bills have won 58, plus one tie. The Dolphins are favored by 2.5, and the over/under is 48.5.
The Bills pass defense will be shorthanded in this matchup because their best defensive back will not play.
The Buffalo Bills’ talented slot cornerback suffered an injury
![Buffalo Bills: Star Defender Will Not Play in Their Week 2 Matchup 1 Buffalo Bills, Taron Johnson](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/USATSI_24187476_168400517_lowres.jpg)
Taron Johnson injured his forearm after Taylor Rapp collided with him on a tackle during a 3rd & 6 conversion on their first drive. Johnson walked off the field without help from the medical staff after the play. After testing his arm on the sideline, he went to the locker room. The Bills ruled him out during halftime.
Sean McDermott told reporters Monday he wasn’t sure about the length of time Johnson will miss and didn’t provide a timetable for his return.
“With Taron, I don’t know his timeline on when he’ll be back….we’re still doing further research on that,” McDermott said, via reporter Matt Bove.
Taron Johnson will not play on Thursday
![Buffalo Bills: Star Defender Will Not Play in Their Week 2 Matchup 2 Buffalo Bills, Taron Johnson](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/USATSI_24115532_168400517_lowres.webp)
The Bills held a walkthrough on Monday and Wednesday, practiced on Tuesday, and released their final injury report before departing for Miami. The Bills have one player listed as doubtful, and two are ruled out. Johnson is one of the two players who will not play. Sean McDermott doesn’t rule out placing Johnson on injured reserve.
“We’re kind of seeing what the options are at this point and just trying to make the right decision,” he told reporters.
Who will replace Taron Johnson?
![Buffalo Bills: Star Defender Will Not Play in Their Week 2 Matchup 3 Buffalo Bills, Taron Johnson](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/USATSI_24068955_168400517_lowres.webp)
Cam Lewis, a six-year veteran, with four career starts in 43 games took over for the injured Johnson for the remainder of the game. Lewis played 55 (90%) defensive snaps and allowed five receptions on seven targets for 33 yards per PFF. He will start in the slot.
He received praise from Sean McDermott for stepping up.
“I thought Cam really did a great job, another guy that stepped into a role that he was not in to begin with, the starting role there,” McDermott said. “Ja’Marcus [Ingram], as I mentioned after the game, I thought did a great job. Cam Lewis did a great job. There’s several others that did the same thing. Really impressed with how hard the guys prepared during the week, and then they stepped in when they were called.”
The Buffalo Bills’ secondary will have their hands full when they face off against Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle
![Buffalo Bills: Star Defender Will Not Play in Their Week 2 Matchup 4 Miami Dolphins, Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/USATSI_24188135_168400517_lowres-scaled.webp)
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