No matter the location, time, or opponent, the Buffalo Bills are going to find a way to win more often than not during the 2024 season. This week, the Bills defeated the Indianapolis Colts 30-20 to move to 8-2, their best record through 10 games since 1993.
The Bills were in control early before letting the Colts get back into it midway through the game. Fortunately, the Bills’ defense hung tough and did not allow the Colts to threaten going up 30-13 before letting a garbage time touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
As with nearly every game, the Bills came out of the game with several injuries of varying severity. Read below for the latest injury information and analysis.
In-Game Injuries
TE Dalton Kincaid (Left Knee)
The biggest injury of the day, Kincaid injured his left knee trying to dive for a ball late in the first quarter as seen below. There wasn’t anything noticeable about his injury once he came up from the ground and he even continued to play throughout the second quarter for one more play before going to the medical tent. He was initially questionable to return with a left knee brace on the sidelines, testing out the knee. He ultimately walked to the locker room with the training staff before halftime for likely further evaluation.
Kincaid did return to play for two more plays in the third quarter with the sleeve and knee brace on the area before exiting for the day after being deemed doubtful.
Following the game, Kincaid noted that he didn’t feel he could protect himself and that he doesn’t know the extent of the injury.
There’s cases to be made for both a PCL sprain and patellar bursitis.
For a PCL sprain, he landed with his knee flexed and returned with a hinged knee brace. When he did return, he struggled in several plays and did not exhibit confidence in the knee. Friend Dr. David Chao also seems to think that this could be a PCL sprain.
Should this be a PCL sprain, he would have injured the ligament that crosses the ACL in the back of the knee. This prevents posterior translation of the tibia meaning the shin going backwards. Testing would have revealed a posterior drawer test which is where the knee is bent and the tibia is able to shift backward in relation to the femur.
He would exhibit pain and instability within the knee and have difficulty pushing off the leg as the knee would be more likely to go into hyperextension. If this is a PCL sprain, it does appear to be mild and could see him miss minimal time. He would likely miss next week against Kansas City and then have the bye to get fully healthy. San Francisco would also be in question, but it depends on how he heals.
Known Bills comparables include Gabe Davis in Week 18 against Miami last season and Harrison Phillips in the preseason back in 2021. Davis missed both playoff games and it wasn’t clear if he would have played in the AFC Championship game had the Bills won. Phillips missed one preseason game and was able to play in Week 1, a three-week time frame. The better comparable would be Davis considering the similar positional demands. Both players were unable to finish their respective games though Davis did try to play another snap or two before realizing something was wrong.
Update Monday: looking at the film, this is a stronger argument for PCL based on how Kincaid is having trouble decelerating and pushing off leg.
If this is a knee bursitis issue, this is an inflammation of a fluid-filled sac that helps lubricate joints during movement. Considering that he landed directly on the knee, this could have hit the pre-patellar bursa sac or infrapatellar bursa sac. This would cause swelling and pain around the knee leading to decreased range of motion. They did put a sleeve on his knee and put the hinged brace on the knee which could help protect the area. If the swelling was enough that he could push off, cut, or run, it makes sense why he had to exit.
The argument for the bursitis is that he was able to play another quarter of football before he realized that he couldn’t get through the game. If this indeed is the case, a reduction of activity during the week to minimize swelling will be imperative. Draining the knee would also be required to reduce persistent swelling. This is something that he could play through with some management throughout the week and be ready for Kansas City in Week 11.
Kincaid has been working through a left knee ailment that appeared to be tendinitis based on the tape job back on October 30.
The blow to the knee caused today’s issue, but prior issues in the knee could have been aggravated by the fall today.
This is one injury that we need a little more information on after the team does imaging on Monday and further testing. Make sure to check back for updates following Monday’s press conference.
Update:
G David Edwards (Stinger)
Edwards had to briefly leave the game after he suffered a stinger early in the fourth quarter just before the Tyler Bass field goal that put the Bills up 23-13. In the video below, you can see his head snap backward.
He was able to stay in for the extra point before going to the medical tent for further assessment. Fortunately, the effects of the stinger wore off and he returned to play. He doesn’t have a history of stingers or neck issues so hopefully this is a one-off issue.
OT Spencer Brown (Right Ankle)
Brown tweaked his right ankle, specifically a low ankle sprain midway through the fourth quarter. You can see how his ankle rolls inward as he steps and he goes down.
He was able to walk off with training staff and was deemed questionable before getting the ankle taped back up and returned. The fact that he returned is promising as this suggests this is not as severe as the last time he suffered a right ankle sprain.
He suffered a right lateral ankle sprain back in Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs that saw him miss two games and three weeks total due to the bye following the game. He was in a walking boot then but we don’t have any updates that he is in a boot following this injury.
Considering the Chiefs game next week, I do expect Brown to be limited during the week but ultimately play as this is an incredibly important game. Even though this is his outside foot, bracing and taping to the area will allow him to get through the game.
Other Observations
CB Christian Benford (Right Wrist)
WR Curtis Samuel (Right Pectoral)
WR Keon Coleman (Right Wrist)
WR Amari Cooper (Left Wrist)
LB Matt Milano (Left Biceps Tear)
This is faster than I had expected but promising to see. To read more about his injury, check out the link below.
The Bills are looking long-term with these injuries as they prepare for the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs at home next week. The team sat out Amari Cooper and Reggie Gilliam to allow them extra time to recover for Sunday and the final stretch for the playoffs.
They also have one open roster spot after the placed LB Baylon Spector on injured reserve for at least the next four games. Sunday will be a big game for playoff seeding as the Bills virtually have the AFC East locked up. We’ll see how things progress as the Bills prepare for the homestretch before the playoffs.
Top Photo Credit: Matt Durisko, Associated Press
