The Buffalo Bills will be looking to win their second straight game as they take on the Houston Texans on “Thursday Night Football”.
Bills Get Major Injury News Before Matchup With Texans
Buffalo is facing injury concerns as it heads into the game. On Wednesday, the Bills announced that tight end Dalton Kincaid, along with wide receivers Curtis Samuel and Mecole Hardman Jr., have been ruled out for this matchup.
Kincaid is one of the top playmakers on the Bills, but he missed last week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after suffering a hamstring injury in the Bills’ Week 10 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
The 26-year-old tight end has recorded 29 receptions for 448 yards and four touchdowns this season. Head coach Sean McDermott recognized the significant challenge it would pose last week when the star tight end was sidelined and didn’t play against Tampa Bay.
“I think it’s going to take everybody (to replace Kincaid),” McDermott said on Nov. 12, via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg. “I think Josh will help fill that void. Dalton’s going to be tough to replace in terms of that, but yeah, I mean, it’s going to take everybody to step up and make plays. It’s going to take Dawson (Knox) and (Jackson) Hawes stepping up and making plays, which I know they’re extremely capable of doing. I’ve got a lot of trust in both those guys.”
The Bills will have another week without Kincaid, which is major, given that Samuel and Hardman are both ruled out.
Hardman and Samuel Both Ruled Out
Hardman is dealing with a calf injury, and Samuel is dealing with neck and elbow issues.
Samuel has only appeared in six games this season, recording seven receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown. While it’s clear the Bills haven’t relied on him much this year, he’s still a veteran receiver that Buffalo could really use, given the injuries they’re dealing with at the moment.
Hardman joined the Bills’ practice squad last week and was elevated to the active roster for the game against Tampa Bay.
Hardman didn’t record a reception last week but did have a nice 61-yard kick return to set the Bills up in Buccaneers territory.
While Hardman may not stand out as a receiver, he certainly made a significant contribution last week on special teams. The Texans’ defense has been impressive, allowing just 16.3 points per game — the best in the NFL. Making big plays on special teams is crucial in this context.
Houston is Dealing With a Big Injury
The Bills aren’t the only team dealing with injuries this week, while the Texans already ruled out starting quarterback C.J. Stroud for the third straight game.
Even though Stroud missed the last two games, backup quarterback Davis Mills did a great job, leading the Texans to two wins.
Mills will need to carry over his performance from the last two weeks into this Thursday’s game if Houston wants to get another win and keep its playoff hopes alive.
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