Bills’ Spencer Brown says MRI was clean and he plans to play against Raiders: back is “nothing major”

Buffalo Bills right tackle Spencer Brown expects to be on the field Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Brown told Joe Buscaglia on Wednesday that his MRI came back clean and that the plan, for now, is for him to try to play.

That is a big change in tone from Monday night. Brown grabbed at his back after a second-quarter screen pass in the 37-34 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams, walked to the locker room and was ruled out in the second half. He played 16 offensive snaps, and Tylan Grable took the last 48 at right tackle.

“Nothing major”

Brown told Sal Capaccio the problem was “nothing major” and “just straight up muscular freaking out.” He also said he had been sick the week before the Rams game and was getting IVs, which may have played a part in the muscles tightening up.

The Bills had reason to be careful. Brown had back surgery after the 2021 season, and a flare-up put him on the physically unable to perform list at the start of training camp in 2025. Back trouble has rarely kept him out of games, though, and a clean scan points to a short-term spasm rather than anything structural.

Limited on Wednesday, Thursday is the real test

Buffalo stayed out west after Monday’s game instead of flying home and held only a walk-through on Wednesday. Brown was listed as limited. Head coach Joe Brady did not want to say much before seeing him in a full practice. “Walk-through today, so that won’t tell us much,” Brady said. “We’ll see how it looks tomorrow.”

The Bills’ Wednesday report:

• Did not practice: receiver DJ Moore (shoulder), defensive tackle Ed Oliver (knee)
• Limited: cornerback Dee Alford (ankle), right tackle Spencer Brown (back), running back Ty Johnson (hamstring), receiver Joshua Palmer (shoulder), defensive tackle T.J. Sanders (shoulder)
• Full: eight other players, including receiver Keon Coleman (ankle)

Why it matters against Las Vegas

Having Brown back would matter most against Maxx Crosby. Whoever plays right tackle will see plenty of the Raiders’ star edge rusher, and Brady said this week that the Bills have to know where Crosby is on every snap. Grable was serviceable on Monday but was flagged twice.

The Bills (4-1) visit the Raiders (3-2) at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, October 18, at 4:25 p.m. EDT, and have their bye the following week. If Brown gets through Thursday and Friday without a setback, he should be in the lineup.