Terrel Bernard Absent From Practice With Ankle Injury Concerns. The $50 Million

Bernard's Availability In Question As Bills Push Toward Season Opener

Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard did not participate in practice on Monday, Aug. 24, continuing a trend of absences that has raised concern about his readiness for the regular season opener on Sept. 13. Media on the scene at One Bills Drive reported four new injury additions Monday, including inside linebacker Terrel Bernard, while six other players remained sidelined with absences dating back at least a week.

According to reporting from the practice field, one reporter noted he "did NOT see Terrell Bernard at #Bills practice," adding there was "a long list of guys NOT practicing."

Offseason Ankle Surgery The Root Of Concern

The main reason for concern on behalf of Bernard is the fact that the 27-year-old had ankle surgery this offseason to help heal an issue that had been nagging the former third-round pick since December 2023 — over two-and-a-half years.

Bernard did not practice on Monday, Aug. 24, having spent the offseason returning from an ankle injury.

Bernard's absence comes after he sat out entirely rather than logging limited reps, a notable step back for a player the Bills have leaned on as a defensive centerpiece. While Bernard sat out with the other first-team veterans, several other players dealing with injuries all played a significant number of snaps in the Aug. 22 preseason road win over the Cleveland Browns.

Contract Situation Raises The Stakes

Bernard's health is under the microscope in part because of the significant financial commitment the Bills made to him this past spring. Bernard is currently in the first year of his four-year rookie extension that is worth a base of $42 million, but up to $50 million, and also includes nearly $24 million guaranteed. The deal, agreed to in March 2025, keeps him with the team through 2029, with a source confirming to ESPN that the contract is worth $50 million with $25.2 million guaranteed.

Bernard's contract structure means the team has limited flexibility even if his recovery lingers. Given the structure of his contract, Bernard is unlikely to be cut by the team prior to the 2028 season, at which point the Bills could save $6 million by releasing him; if he is released before then, the team would incur a dead cap hit that year that supersedes the value of the cap hit.

Looking Ahead

Bernard has battled recurring ankle issues before, having missed time with a similar injury during the 2024 season. With the Bills set to open the regular season in less than three weeks, the main focus for Bernard at this point is getting healthy and putting good performances on tape to hit the ground running come the start of the season on September 13. The team has not issued a formal timetable for his return to practice.