Buffalo Bills Injury Report vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Week 11
It’s Week 11 in Buffalo, and the (6–3) Bills return home to face the (6–3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a matchup that suddenly feels way more desperate than it should in mid-November. After last week’s humiliating blowout loss to Miami, vibes around One Bills Drive have dipped lower than the Orchard Park wind chill, and for the first time in years, some of the blame is landing squarely on Josh Allen’s broad, usually-untouchable shoulders. Rumor has it things might even be a little… tense at home. Nothing dramatic, just the kind of “who controls the remote?” standoff with Hailee Steinfeld that leaves a franchise QB looking a step off, like maybe he hasn’t been the one picking the channel for a few nights.
Now Allen enters his third career showdown with fellow 2018 draft star Baker Mayfield, and the Bills desperately need him to take command, regain control, and remind the NFL who really sets the tone in this relationship. With the season dangerously close to unraveling and Bills Mafia teetering between panic and full-blown table-smashing hysteria, this matchup has become less about standings and more about survival. Buffalo needs a spark, a statement, and honestly… a win before everyone loses their damn minds.
The Buffalo Bills injury report is once again a full novella, but at least the final chapter is shorter than it looked earlier in the week. The Bills will officially be without two key players; tight end Dalton Kincaid and defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis. Three others carry the dreaded QUESTIONABLE tag: nickel corners Taron Johnson and Cam Lewis, along with linebacker Shaq Thompson, while defensive tackle T.J. Sanders inches closer to returning from Injured Reserve. And speaking of IR, Buffalo added DE Landon Jackson to the list this week which is already headlined by DT Ed Oliver and DE Michael Hoecht, and including SAF Damar Hamlin, DT DeWayne Carter, CB Dorian Strong, OT Tylan Grable, K Tyler Bass, and SAF Taylor Rapp. For a team fighting to stop the season from unraveling, the Bills are once again rolling into Sunday with a medical chart that reads like a CVS receipt.
Tampa Bay limps into Week 11 with an injury report that’s nearly as bruised as Buffalo’s. The Buccaneers have already ruled five players OUT, a group headlined by star WR Chris Godwin Jr., RB Bucky Irving, and pass-rushing menace Haason Reddick, along with OG Ben Bredeson and OLB Markees Watts. And that’s before accounting for the damage already done as Tampa is still without WR Mike Evans, WR Jalen McMillan, and OG Cody Mauch, leaving major holes on the offensive side of the ball. For a team trying to keep pace in a chaotic NFC playoff race, the Bucs arrive in Orchard Park with a depth chart held together by athletic tape, hope, and whoever’s left standing.
Buffalo Bills Injury Report
Added to Injured Reserve (IR)
DE Landon Jackson
Defensive end Landon Jackson was added to the Buffalo Bills injury report, being placed on the Injured Reserve list this week after suffering a right knee injury in the Dolphins game. Reports indicate he sustained both MCL and PCL injuries, which, while serious, are a relief compared to a feared ACL tear that would have ended his season.
The combined ligament damage is expected to sideline Jackson for at least six weeks, though if his recovery goes smoothly, there’s a chance he could return toward the end of the regular season or into the playoffs, giving Buffalo hope for some depth down the defensive line in the crucial stretch.
OUT
TE Dalton Kincaid
The often-injured tight end is no stranger to the Buffalo Bills’ injury report and is week-to-week with a hamstring injury. Kincaid went down against the Dolphins after logging just 18 snaps, adding to a frustrating season that has already seen him miss two games.
Despite the Bills trying to manage his workload behind fellow tight ends Dawson Knox and Jackson Hawes, Kincaid has remained a key weapon in Buffalo’s limited passing attack, even if that utility comes at the cost of durability. With the average return-to-play timeline for this type of hamstring injury around 13 days (Strive Tech), Bills fans can expect Kincaid to miss at least the next two games as he works toward recovery.
DT Phidarian Mathis
Defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis will miss Week 11 after being a DNP (Did Not Participate) in practice all week due to a shoulder injury. Surprisingly, no injury was reported during last week’s game, where Mathis actually logged a season-high 40% snap share, making this sudden absence a bit of a head-scratcher for Bills fans. Pending further updates from the team, Mathis is expected to sit out at least this week, leaving Buffalo’s defensive front even thinner against the Buccaneers.
QUESTIONABLE
CB Taron Johnson
Cornerback Taron Johnson continues to battle a lingering groin injury that first flared up before the Chiefs game, causing him to miss that matchup as well as last week against the Dolphins. Johnson looked poised for a return after participating fully in practice on Thursday, but a setback caused him to downgraded to limited for Friday’s session. The aggravation of his groin could keep him sidelined on the Buffalo Bills injury report for a third consecutive game, leaving the nickel corner rotation even more thin heading into Week 11.
CB Cam Lewis
Cornerback Cam Lewis has been limited all week in practice with a calf injury. He has been stepping in for the injured Taron Johnson over the past two weeks at nickel corner, logging over 90% of the snaps during that stretch. That is especially concerning because if Lewis and Taron Johnson can’t go, Buffalo will be down to its third option at nickel corner. Calf injuries typically take 2–3 weeks to recover (Werner BC et al., 2017), but given Lewis’s high snap share last week and his ability to practice in a limited fashion, this injury appears minor. Still, it might simply be too soon to return, leaving the Bills in a precarious spot at one of their most critical defensive positions.
LB Shaq Thompson
Linebacker Shaq Thompson continues to remain on the Buffalo Bills injury report, battle a lingering hamstring injury that has been an on-and-off issue since training camp. After missing the past two games, Thompson made encouraging progress, participating fully in practice on both Thursday and Friday this week. This improvement makes his continued QUESTIONABLE designation somewhat perplexing, as the standard return-to-play timeline for NFL hamstring strains is around 13 days (Strive Tech), and he is now approaching three weeks of recovery. Given his recent full participation and prior contributions, including logging 89% of defensive snaps in Week 8 without leaving the game, Bills fans should reasonably expect Thompson to be activated for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers, giving Buffalo a much-needed boost at linebacker.
DT T.J. Sanders
Defensive tackle T.J. Sanders was placed on Injured Reserve just before the Week 5 matchup against the Patriots due to a knee injury and underwent surgery, which appears to have been a meniscectomy given his rapid recovery. Recovery from a meniscectomy typically takes 4–6 weeks (NB Sports Medicine), meaning Sanders is now roughly six weeks post-procedure.
The team opened his 21-day practice window this week, and he participated fully in practice all week, though head coach Sean McDermott noted he still has some catching up to do. While Sanders is technically eligible for activation, if he is not moved to the 53-man roster this week, the team has up to two more weeks to make that decision, leaving his Week 11 status in limbo.
Also Listed (Active)
CB Christian Benford
Cornerback Christian Benford missed last week after landing on the Buffalo Bills injury report due to aggravating a groin injury in practice the Wednesday before the Dolphins game. He returned to back-to-back full practices this week and is expected to play on Sunday. That said, Bills fans should remain cautious, as Benford has dealt with groin issues dating back to training camp, suggesting this injury may have been lingering throughout the season.
LB Terrel Bernard
Linebacker Terrel Bernard will be active on Sunday after once again stacking back-to-back full practices this week. While he has chronic issues with his right ankle dating back multiple seasons, most notably during the 2023 playoffs against the Steelers, there have been rumblings that Bernard was still hobbling in last week’s game.
Bernard is still on the Buffalo Bills injury report due to managing lingering effects from the ankle injury he suffered in Week 6 against the Falcons. After the bye week, he was active in Week 8 but didn’t log any snaps, serving only as an emergency option. Over the past two games, Bernard has played more than 98% of the defensive snaps, though his ankle remains an issue to monitor closely moving forward.
DE Joey Bosa
Defensive end Joey Bosa played last week against the Dolphins with a full club on his left wrist.
While the exact origin of the injury is unclear, it likely occurred during the Week 8 matchup against the Panthers, where he logged just 44% of the snaps. Bosa bounced back in Week 9 against the Chiefs, playing 73% of snaps while favoring his wrist at times, and then logged 62% of snaps last week despite wearing the protective club in Week 10. The severity of the injury suggests a potential wrist fracture, and Bills fans should expect him to wear the club for at least the next few weeks while continuing to anchor the defensive line.
WR Khalil Shakir
Wide receiver Khalil Shakir saw his second-highest snap count of the season last week, but entered practice this week limited on Wednesday and Thursday due to ribs and an ankle injury. Wearing a red non-contact jersey during those sessions, Shakir returned to full participation on Friday and is now cleared for contact.
Rib injuries typically require a week or two for recovery, so Shakir is taking a bit of a risk playing this week. Meanwhile, his ankle remains a concern, as it appears he may have aggravated the injury that sidelined him for a month during the summer, making his availability a key storyline for Buffalo’s offense.
WR Joshua Palmer
Wide receiver Joshua Palmer will finally return to action after missing the last three games (five weeks recovery) with an apparent high ankle sprain and mild MCL sprain suffered in Week 6 against Atlanta. High ankle sprains typically require 4–6 weeks of recovery (Clanton et al., 2000), making Palmer’s return this week right in line with standard timelines.
He logged full practices all week and is set to play on Sunday, giving Bills Mafia hope that his reliable intermediate routes and downfield chemistry with Josh Allen can help stabilize an offense still juggling multiple injuries at wide receiver and tight end.
DE AJ Epenesa
Defensive end AJ Epenesa played 39% of the snaps in Week 9 against the Chiefs without any apparent issues, but he developed delayed concussion symptoms that forced him to miss the Week 10 matchup against the Dolphins. Fortunately, Epenesa returned to full participation in practice all week and is cleared to play on Sunday, giving Buffalo a key presence on the defensive line as they look to bounce back against the Buccaneers.
DT Jordan Phillips
Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips remains active this week and participated fully in practice all week despite being listed with a wrist issue. While he is fully recovered, Phillips tied his season-low in snaps last week. This limited usage suggests that the wrist may still be subtly affecting his play, though he is expected to contribute against the Buccaneers on Sunday.
LB Dorian Williams
Linebacker Dorian Williams appeared on the injury report as limited on Wednesday with a groin issue but returned to full participation for the remainder of the week. Last week, he maintained his normal special teams role but saw his defensive snaps drop to a season-low 5.7%, signaling that he may have been feeling the effects of the injury during the Dolphins game. Williams will be one to monitor closely, especially as Buffalo’s linebacker rotation continues to navigate multiple injuries heading into Week 11.
