The Buffalo Bills are suddenly healthier. That might not be a completely fair statement, because, while they had a lengthy injury list to open Week 11, a lot of the names on that list were already on the road
to being healthy and others seemed to be dealing with some minor bumps and bruises. Either way, on Thursday, 10 of the 14 players on the Bills’ injury list were full participants at practice.
We haven’t done this in awhile, so let’s take a look at who is trending in what direction.
Buffalo Bills trending up
- CB Christian Benford (groin)
- LB Terrel Bernard (ankle)
- DE Joey Bosa (wrist)
- DE A.J. Epenesa (concussion)
- CB Taron Johnson (groin)
- WR Joshua Palmer (knee/ankle)
- DT Jordan Phillips (wrist)
- LB Shaq Thompson (hamstring)
- LB Dorian Williams (groin)
- DT Jordan Sanders (knee)*
All of these names represent a full day of practice – a very good sign for Buffalo defense that has had more holes than they’ve been able to fill lately. Bosa will still play with a club on his hand, and it’s a good bet that could be something we see for the duration of the season. Bernard looked a little slow last week, so it’s hard to believe his ankle is 100% healed, but the Bills need him, so the defensive captain will play. Hopefully both Johnson and Bernard are back to full speed and it will be great for defensive coordinator Bobby Babich, or head coach Sean McDermott (if he’s the one still calling the defense), to have a full array of linebackers to choose from Sunday.
Sanders is still on Injured Reserve (IR), although the Bills opened his practice window this week. Technically the rookie has two-and-a-half more weeks before Buffalo has to move him to the active roster, but he’s already had two full practices, and the defensive line is short on rotational players. While McDermott’s team is notorious for slowly easing players into the lineup, they broke from protocol and activated rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston after just one week of practice. The rookie has managed two interceptions in three games, so will the Bills look to follow suit with Sanders?
Buffalo Bills holding steady
- DB Cam Lewis (calf)
- WR Khalil Shakir (ankle/ribs)
Lewis and Shakir were limited at practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. If Johnson and Bernard are truly healthy, the Bills could have the option of letting Lewis rest a week. But that’s a big risk, as neither of the veterans have looked strong this season.
Shakir’s red, non-contract jersey could just be a precaution — something to keep the wide receiver from getting any more banged up. But not having him on the field Sunday will mean that offensive coordinator Joe Brady will have to dig a little deeper in his play book. The Bills are going to be without tight end Dalton Kincaid (read more about that below), and Shakir is Allen’s next favorite target. The good news is that Joshua Palmer is healthy and so is Gabe Davis, who would need to be elevated from the practice squad, so moving Keon Coleman to slot – something he did well during his collegiate career – could be game-changing for Buffalo’s offense.
Buffalo Bills trending down
- TE Dalton Kincaid (hamstring)
- DT Phidarian Mathis (shoulder)
Kincaid pulled up with a hamstring injury part way through Buffalo’s loss in Miami last week. That’s not good news as he’s probably looking at missing multiple games. This is a recurring theme for the tight end’s career. In each of his three seasons since being drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, Kincaid has missed game time due to injury. In his rookie season it was a concussion that saw him miss a game. In 2024, it was first a shoulder injury and then a knee injury that saw him miss a total of four games. At the conclusion of last season, general manager Brandon Beane said that they needed the 6’4”, 240-pound tight end to get stronger and become more durable.
As for Mathis, the tackle was just added to the 53-man roster last week after being elevated from the practice squad in Weeks 5 and 9. While he wasn’t listed with an injury mid-game, Mathis didn’t record any tackles or measurable stats in Week 10, and has now been unable to practice as he deals with a shoulder injury. With Phillips healthy and, potentially, Sanders ready to go, it’s likely that the fourth-year defensive tackle is listed as out tomorrow.
Buffalo Bills on Injured Reserve
- K Tyler Bass
- DT DeWayne Carter
- OT Tylan Grable
- S Damar Hamlin
- DE Michael Hoecht
- EDGE Landon Jackson
- DT Ed Oliver
- S Taylor Rapp
- CB Dorian Strong
Of these, Oliver, Strong, Hoecht, and Carter won’t be back this season. Hamlin could possibly return at playoff time. McDermott indicated that Rapp probably won’t be back this year, and Jackson was just placed on IR this week. There has been no word on the progress of Grable who was listed with a concussion and then headed to IR, but was designated to return, before the season started. Similarly, there has been no word on kicker Tyler Bass who landed on the IR list before Week 1’s game, but after the official start of the season. Both are eligible to return at any time.
If McDermott announces just two players with game-day designations tomorrow, a strong likelihood, it will be decision time at One Bills Drive on Sunday when he has to decide who gets a uniform as the Bills take on the 6-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
