ORCHARD PARK - As expected, the Buffalo Bills will yet again have to play without one of their best defensive players, linebacker Terrel Bernard, when they take on the Seattle Seahawks Sunday at Lumen Field.

Coach Sean McDermott announced Friday morning that Bernard, wide receiver Curtis Samuel, and defensive tackle DeWayne Carter will not be able to play. And Carter is going on the injured reserve list due to a broken wrist, so he will now have to miss at least the next four games.

Bernard suffered a head injury early last week against the Titans, returned to the game, and then went down with an ankle injury and could not finish. Samuel injured his pectoral muscle early and never returned. Bernard and Samuel have not practiced all week, while Carter was limited with a wrist injury but has not improved so was ruled out, too.

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Bernard missed 2 ½ games earlier this season after he went down early in the Week 2 victory over Miami with a pectoral injury and was out for the victory over the Jaguars and the loss to the Ravens.

When he has played, Bernard has been the same difference-maker he was in 2023 when he became the Bills’ starting Mike linebacker and quarterback of the defense. In about the equivalent of four games this year, Bernard has been in on 32 tackles and he has an interception and fumble recovery, so it’s a big loss, especially given that Baylon Spector is the likely replacement.

As for Samuel, his season of disappointment continues. The offseason free agent signing who is the highest-paid receiver on the team, has been a complete bust to date. He has just 12 catches for 92 yards and he has been on the field for only 31% of the snaps, fifth-most among the receivers, even behind Marquez Valdes-Scantling who was released last week.

The loss of Samuel probably impacts nothing because Amari Cooper is now with the Bills and he will join Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman in the bulk of Buffalo’s three-wide sets, though Mack Hollins will probably, and curiously, still see reps as well even though his production is even worse than Samuel’s (seven catches, 81 yards).

With Carter out, the Bills will lean more heavily on Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Austin Johnson and will use Zion Logue on occasion, but he's not ready to share a full rotational workload.

Seattle Seahawks injury report update

In Seattle, the big injury to watch continues to be wide receiver DK Metcalf. He suffered a sprained MCL last week in the Seahawks’ victory over Atlanta, and he did not practice all week. Friday, he was listed as doubtful so while that doesn't close the door on him playing, the chances now seem pretty slim. If he doesn’t play, the Seahawks will go to Jake Bobo and Laviska Shenault to pick up some of the slack.

Also doubtful is defensive tackle Cameron Young with a knee injury.

The Seahawks might also be without cornerback Tre Brown who has an ankle injury and didn’t play in Atlanta, but they might get back one of their starting cornerbacks, Tariq Woolen who has missed the last two games with an ankle injury. He has been a limited participant in practice which is a sign of progress.

Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades including 35 years as the full-time beat writer for the D&C, and he has written numerous books about the history of the team. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on Twitter @salmaiorana. https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills injury report update: Terrell Bernard, Curtis Samuel out