Buffalo Bills right tackle Spencer Brown and tight end Dalton Kincaid both sustained injuries during last Sunday’s victory over the Indianapolis Colts and will not participate in practice on Wednesday. Brown, who suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter during Buffalo’s game-clinching 13-play touchdown drive, missed eight plays before returning to finish the game. Kincaid, meanwhile, injured his knee in the second quarter, briefly left the game, and returned but was ultimately forced to exit for good in the third quarter.
Head coach Sean McDermott expressed optimism that Brown may still be able to practice later this week, though the team is taking a day-to-day approach with his recovery. Should Brown be unable to play on Sunday, third-year tackle Ryan Van Demark is expected to step in. Van Demark, who replaced Brown during the game, impressed with his performance, particularly on a key third-down play where he helped extend the drive with several blocks during wide receiver Khalil Shakir’s 30-yard reception.
Kincaid, after sustaining the knee injury, initially believed he could return to action and attempted to play through it, donning a brace for support. However, he ultimately determined that he wasn’t physically capable of continuing. “It didn’t feel good enough to run and go out there and protect myself,” Kincaid said after the game, acknowledging the difficulty of playing with the injury.
In the event Kincaid is unavailable for Sunday’s game, the Bills may need to rely more heavily on veteran tight end Dawson Knox. This season, Kincaid and Knox have played nearly identical snap counts, with Kincaid at 61% and Knox at 57%. Knox, who served as the team’s starting tight end before Kincaid’s arrival in the 2023 draft, is accustomed to a significant role in the offense.
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady expressed full confidence in Knox’s ability to step up in Kincaid’s potential absence. “Dawson is a number one tight end,” Brady remarked. “We’re fortunate having multiple tight ends that can do a lot of different things… Dawson is a great leader, a great football player, and I have full confidence when he’s in there.”
As the Bills continue to navigate their injury concerns, McDermott and the coaching staff will monitor the recovery of both Brown and Kincaid closely. With important games ahead, the depth and versatility of players like Van Demark and Knox will be critical in maintaining the team’s momentum.