The Buffalo Bills will be playing Sunday afternoon’s AFC showdown in Houston without two of their most important players.

Coach Sean McDermott on Friday ruled out wide receiver Khalil Shakir and defensive tackle Ed Oliver, and he also said that safety Taylor Rapp and defensive tackle Austin Johnson will miss the game.

As for nickel cornerback Taron Johnson and linebacker Terrel Bernard, both will be listed as questionable and will practice on a limited basis Friday.

Khalil Shakir injury update

Shakir, who has been the Bills’ best pass catching target, suffered an ankle injury against the Ravens last week and though he finished that game, he was unable to practice this week and it was pretty clear he was going to be out.

Ed Oliver injury update

As for Oliver, he got hurt during practice Thursday, suffering a hamstring injury. That’s a huge blow given that Johnson will be missing due to an oblique strain, and edge rusher Von Miller is suspended four games.

Who is Ed Oliver's backup on Bills depth chart?

To replace Oliver, the Bills will have to turn to newly signed Zion Logue who was signed off the Atlanta Falcons practice squad earlier in the week. Logue is a rookie sixth-round pick who has never played in an NFL game. He will join another rookie, Buffalo’s third-round pick DeWayne Carter in the tackle rotation along with DaQuan Jones. The Bills will also probably have to use Dawuane Smoot on the inside.

That would mean the edge rusher rotation will likely consist of Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa, Casey Toohill and Javon Solomon.

Who is Khalil Shakir's backup on Bills depth chart?

Without Shakir, the Bills now need for players such as Curtis Samuel and Keon Coleman to take a bigger role on the outside, and tight end Dalton Kincaid may become more a part of the game plan as well. Shakir leads the team with 18 catches for 230 yards and two TDs. Samuel and Coleman each have only eight catches.

At safety, Rapp did not clear concussion protocol after he was hurt trying to tackle Derrick Henry. McDermott said that rookie Cole Bishop will start in Rapp’s spot. Veteran Mike Edwards, one of the most disappointing offseason free agent signings, has been a healthy scratch each of the last two games, though he will have to be active as the fourth safety.

All in all, it’s a pretty rough injury report in front of a big game against a fellow AFC championship contender.

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

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This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Khalil Shakir injury update: WR, other Bills to miss Texans game