Entering Week 11, the 6-3 Buffalo Bills are trailing the AFC East leaders, the New England Patriots, by one and a half games. And their chances to reclaim the top spot are only decreasing. With that, their upcoming matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became crucial to staying in the AFC’s top ranks. However, an injury update to their $13.4 million asset might be a concern for Josh Allen‘s offense

“Bills coach Sean McDermott said on @WGR550 that TE Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) and DT Phidarian Mathis (shoulder) are OUT for Sunday’s game vs. the Buccaneers,” Alaina Getzenberg, Bills reporter for ESPN, wrote on her X.

If the Bills take care of the business and win over the Bucs, the team will be in contention to challenge the Patriots once again to lead the division. However, Kincaid’s injury is a major blow to the offense already trying to cope with their embarrassing 30-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

The tight end, signed to a $13.4M rookie contract, has emerged as one of the top targets for Allen. However, in the team’s loss against Miami, he left in the third quarter and never returned. After the game, the team had put him on a week-to-week basis. However, they were already concerned that it could be something long-term. He will be further evaluated next Friday. He also didn’t suit up for the following practices, unlike his Week 6 oblique injury.

Then, he had practiced for three days and was marked questionable for their matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. He was ultimately ruled out. But he’s been quite a spark for the Bills.

In his 8 games, the 26-year-old has 29 receptions for the team’s second-best 448 yards with a career-high average of 15.4 receiving yards. He also leads the team with four touchdowns. His ability to run routes smoothly, use his hands well, read zone defenses, and win on short and intermediate routes will be missed in Sunday’s home game.

Most probably, veteran Dawson Knox and Jackson Hawes will split snaps at tight end. The 29-year-old has started 6 of 9 games this season for the Bills, recording 12 receptions for 155 yards and a touchdown. At the same time, rookie Hawes has been a better fit for the team. He has eight receptions for 113 yards and a couple of scores.

However, it’s not all bad for Josh Allen’s offense for Week 11.

WR Khalil Shakir, who leads the team with 457 receiving yards, was limited during practice on Wednesday and Thursday with an ankle/rib injury. However, head coach Sean McDermott updated in the same show that he expects him to play against Tampa Bay. So, while Allen will be missing a big piece on the field, another bigger piece will be at his service.

Time to play Mr. Brightside now?

Bills’ defense sees ups and downs, too

Already, Buffalo’s defense is trying to improve from its T-24th rank in the league, according to PFF. But they, too, will be missing some pieces.

Phidarian Mathis had been working his way up from the Bills’ practice squad since early September, stepping in for three games and giving the team some solid snaps. He handled limited defensive work against the Patriots, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the losing effort against the Dolphins.

The Bills eventually bumped him up to the active roster after Michael Hoecht went on injured reserve with an Achilles injury. In his three appearances, he has had five total tackles, including a couple of solo.

However, now Mathis is dealing with a shoulder issue, and that setback leaves Buffalo adjusting again. With him sidelined, it naturally opens the door for Jordan Phillips to see more action along the defensive line.

Additionally, cornerback Cam Lewis has been limited in practice this week with a calf injury. McDermott said they will assess his recovery when he is limited on Friday. CB Taron Johnson will also be limited on Friday.

But there’s also a good note…

The rest of the Bills’ roster appears to be trending in a positive direction. CB Christian Benford, defensive edge A.J. Epenesa, defensive tackle T.J. Sanders, linebacker Shaq Thompson, and WR Joshua Palmer were all full participants in Thursday’s practice. With this, Sunday might prove to be the healthiest the Bills’ defense has been all season.

Already, the Buffalo’s 5th-ranked offense will go against the league’s 10th-best defense in Week 11. To help the team regain momentum, the defense could help hold off the league’s 18th-ranked offense.

While the injury reports have seen some positive upgrades, nothing takes the mind off the fact that there won’t be a No. 86 jersey on the Highmark Stadium field for Week 11.

Fans sound the alarm after Dalton Kincaid’s injury news

Since he was a rookie, Kincaid stood out from the group. With 73 receptions for 673 yards, he recorded the second most catches and yards by any Bills’ rookie and the most catches by a rookie tight end. This season, too, he was one of the most dependable targets for Allen. With an injury coming at a crucial time, fans are understandably tense.

One wrote, “Josh Allen already looks bad enough as it is, too.”

Josh Allen had one of his roughest outings of the season against the Dolphins when he posted his second-worst QBR of the season at 28.8. Making matters worse for the Bills Mafia is the fact that the only worse QBR Allen has posted came in the game against the Falcons, another matchup that Kincaid missed.

Losing Kincaid is certainly a tough-luck situation for the Bills.

One Bills fan even said, “Dude ain’t just the TE he is currently our whole receiving offense.”

Since the fan didn’t say it, we will: Period!

Words can’t be truer. Currently, Kincaid has 448 receiving yards. On the other hand, neither Knox nor Hawes is even close to half of that milestone in more games played than the Las Vegas-born. In wide receivers, Shakir is bringing the heat, followed by Keon Coleman. However, most fall short after these three players. No wonder the fans are concerned about the game’s outcome.

“Damn!” wrote one as another said, “Tough break for the Bills.”

The Buffaloes are already on a shaky footing in the division race. If they don’t come out of the home game with a win, that grip will only worsen.

Of course, he’s been a big reason why the Bills’ passing game has worked. That’s why one fan wrote, “That’s a big loss for their offense right now.”

With the Bills struggling to find rhythm, Kincaid’s absence will certainly be felt on the offensive side of the ball. The Week 11 game will only get more difficult with the Bucs’ better defense. However, one thing that the entire Bills Mafia must remember is Josh Allen’s words from the team’s Week 1 41-40 comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens, and this might be the exact time to prove the franchise quarterback right:

“Have some faith next time.”