Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott confirmed that tight end Dalton Kincaid will be out for Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay during his Friday press conference. Kincaid, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, missed just one other game this season back in week six when the Bills fell to the Atlanta Falcons.
Kincaid exited last week’s game against Miami and did not return. He hasn’t practiced leading into this weekend and is officially week-to-week.
The 26-year-old has been a huge part of Buffalo’s offense this season, catching 29 passes for 448 yards and four touchdowns. He leads the team in receiving touchdowns and is just nine yards behind WR Khalil Shakir for the team lead in receiving yards.
In his absence, the Bills will need Dawson Knox and Jackson Hawes to step up at TE. The two have combined for 20 receptions and three touchdowns this season and should both have elevated roles without Kincaid in the lineup.
McDermott delivered some praise for Knox ahead of what will be an important game for him with Kincaid out.
“Dawson is a two-dimensional player: he can play in the run game and he can play in the pass game,” McDermott said. “Not only is he that, he’s a leader on our football team… my trust and faith is very high in [Knox]. A young player that came here and it’s been fun to watch him grow and evolve and develop. We’ll miss [Kincaid] this weekend, but I have full confidence in [Knox].”
More Injury News For Bills Heading Into Week 11
McDermott also confirmed that defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis will miss week 11 with a shoulder injury. Mathis has played just three games this season and hasn’t made a start. He is on a week-to-week basis, according to McDermott.
McDermott also announced that CB Taron Johnson (groin) and DB Cam Lewis (calf) would be the only limited participants in the Bills’ Friday practice. Everyone else will be a full participant Friday.
The news that everyone else would be a full participant is a good sign for one of the Bills top offensive weapons, WR Khalil Shakir. Shakir had been limited on Wednesday and Thursday with injuries to both his ankle and his ribs. With Kincaid already out, losing Shakir would make Josh Allen’s life much harder Sunday without his top two pass-catchers.
McDermott confirmed Shakir is healthy enough to take on a full workload in practice Friday.
Bills and Buccaneers Both Looking To Get Back In Win Column
Buffalo and Tampa Bay are both coming off of disappointing losses in week 1o, with the Bills falling to the Miami Dolphins and the Bucs losing to the New England Patriots.
Buffalo has played a little bit of a Jekyll and Hyde act this season, with two of their three losses coming to non-playoff contending teams. In both of those losses to Miami and the Atlanta Falcons, it was both the offense and the defense letting the team down. Josh Allen has thrown five interceptions through nine games, but four of them have come in Bills’ losses.
The defense allowed a lackluster Dolphins offense to run rampant last week, primarily on the ground. Miami RB De’Von Achane had 174 rushing yards for two touchdowns.
Expect the Buffalo run defense to come out this week with a renewed sense of urgency against a relatively weak Tampa Bay run game.
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