Buffalo Bills star Amari Cooper will miss his team’s final game of the season due to personal reasons.
The Bills, who are locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC for the playoffs, will look to move to 14-3 on the season when they face the Patriots in Week 18.
But Cooper won’t take the field, as the team said on Saturday that he had been excused for a personal family matter.
The Bills did not provide further details on Cooper’s situation.
Cooper was traded to the Bills from the Browns in October along with a 2025 sixth-round pick, in exchange for a 2025 third-rounder and 2026 seventh-rounder.
Since then, he has totaled 297 receiving yards and two touchdowns for the team in eight games.
His best performance for Buffalo came in a 44-42 loss to the Rams, in which he caught six balls for 95 yards.
With Buffalo’s playoff positioning secured, it appears that Cooper won’t be the only starter sitting on Sunday.
Ahead of the game, head coach Sean McDermott told reporters he will use a ‘blend’ of starters and backups, according to the team’s website.
The Bills will host a wild card round playoff game the weekend of January 11, though their opponent (the No. 7 seed) is yet to be determined.
The Broncos will secure the last playoff spot in the AFC if they beat a Chiefs squad who will be resting their starters.
However, if the Broncos lose and the Dolphins beat the Jets, Miami will make the postseason instead.
And if both Miami and Denver lose and the Bengals beat the Steelers on Saturday night, then Cincinnati will sneak into the postseason.
