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DJ Moore leaves Patriots game with shoulder injury and does not return

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DJ Moore left Buffalo’s October 4 game with a shoulder injury and did not return after an in-game downgrade to doubtful.

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WhyNFL Sports DeskPublished Updated
WHYNFL briefingUpdated: Sep 18, 2026, 11:41 am EDT.

whynfl’s attributed briefing and context. No on-scene reporting or independent medical assessment is claimed.

October 5 update: shoulder injury interrupted the Patriots game

DJ Moore left Buffalo’s October 4 game against New England late in the second quarter with a shoulder injury and did not return. The Bills initially listed him as questionable to return before downgrading him to doubtful during the game.

This supersedes the pregame availability picture, not the historical record of Friday’s clearance. The reports below describe that earlier preparation. Neither the in-game designation nor the postgame recap establishes Moore’s availability for Week 5 or a recovery timetable.

Friday update, October 2, 2026: Moore has no Week 4 designation

DJ Moore has no injury designation for Buffalo’s October 4 game against New England after remaining limited with a shoulder injury in all three practices. His practice participation does not establish a snap count or workload for Sunday.

Earlier in the week: Thursday practice

Moore was limited on Thursday, October 1, for a second consecutive session. Fellow receiver Keon Coleman improved from no participation Wednesday to limited work Thursday with an ankle issue. Coleman remained limited Friday. When checked October 3, Buffalo’s live injury table listed him as questionable, while New England’s October 2 report gave him no game designation. Those official listings conflict, so Coleman’s availability should not be treated as settled before the final inactive announcement. Moore has no game designation in both reports.

October 1 update: Moore played in Week 3

DJ Moore was active for Buffalo’s 24-16 win over the Chargers on September 27 after the shoulder injury he suffered against Detroit. He caught three passes for 31 yards during the Bills’ late first-half scoring drive, resolving the earlier uncertainty over whether he would play in Week 3.

Shoulder still on the practice report

Moore was limited in practice Wednesday, September 30, wearing a red non-contact jersey as Buffalo began preparations for New England. His shoulder remained the listed issue. His final Friday report carries no game-status designation for the Patriots matchup; the earlier practice restriction does not establish his workload.

How the injury developed

Moore left the September 17 win over Detroit with a shoulder and stinger injury. He then carried a questionable designation into the Chargers game before being cleared to play. His Week 3 appearance is confirmed, and Friday’s Week 4 report now leaves Moore without an injury designation for New England.

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