2025 Buffalo Bills Injury Preview

2025 Buffalo Bills Injury Preview
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) takes the field for practice at the NFL football team's training camp in Pittsford, N.Y., Monday July 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)

The Buffalo Bills are counting down the days until they open the 2025 preseason at St. John Fisher on July 23rd. The Bills are on the doorstep of the Super Bowl and need that extra bit of luck to finally break through this year. Whether that is a key defensive stop, a fourth-down conversion, or an injured player available, all contribute towards playing on the final Sunday of the season. 

Today’s article recaps all the notable injuries from 2024, along with any concerns from this offseason and new player issues. Some injuries may linger, while others were unlucky at the time. The Bills have shown the ability to get most guys healthy, but always seem to come up just short in the postseason. Read below for more information. 

Note: both the offense and defense portions of this article were first published on the Buffalo Pregame Substack earlier this week.

Offense

WR Curtis Samuel

Injuries: Turf Toe, Right Toe/Foot, Pectoral, Ankle

Games Missed: 2

Samuel’s season was marred by injuries, which has been the narrative for his entire career. This led to the worst statistics of his career when playing over 10 games. His season started with a turf toe injury in mid-August in training camp. This injury lingered for the first several weeks of the season before he added a right toe/foot injury in Week 5, then suffering a right pectoral injury in Week 7, forcing him out in Week 8. His pectoral strain and foot injury lingered for the rest of the season before he added a rib injury in Week 15 that cost him two games. 

His career has been full of injuries and flashes of brilliance, but with a healthy season, the hope is that he can put it all together to be a true weapon for the offense. Unfortunately, history tends to repeat itself, and I fear this may be no different for Samuel in 2025. None of these injuries will necessarily linger, but I will not be convinced that he can be a solid contributor until he can prove he can stay healthy. I will gladly wait to be proven wrong. 

QB Josh Allen

Injuries: Left Hand Fracture, Right Ankle, Right Elbow/Shoulder, Right Hand/Wrist

Games Missed: 0

The 2024 MVP brought the Bills to the doorstep of the Super Bowl despite battering his body for the betterment of the team. His injuries started early when he broke his left hand diving into the end zone in Week 1. His right elbow hit the left hand, forcing him to wear a glove with padding for most of the season. 

He later added a right ankle injury in Week 5 and a right shoulder injury in Week 16, trying to gain extra yardage to close out the Patriots’ win. During the same game, he hit his funny bone which affected his grip in the cold but this injury did not linger. 

Finally, he suffered a right wrist/hand injury in the AFC Championship game loss. He was seen with a wrap on his hand, with rumblings that he broke a bone in his hand. Whether he did or not doesn’t matter much now; Allen has shown time and time again what he will sacrifice to win. While none of these injuries will affect him in 2025, I fully expect Allen to suffer his share of injuries again this year, but it will take someone to scrape him off the field for him to miss any games. 

OT Tylan Grable

Injury: Core Muscle Repair

Games Missed: 13

Grable missed a significant portion of the season after he suffered a core muscle injury in Week 3 against Jacksonville. This forced him out for the next 13 games before he returned during the season finale to get crucial reps for his development. Core muscle repairs have fantastic outcomes, and this will have no impact on his performance this upcoming season. 

TE Dalton Kincaid 

Injuries: Right Collarbone, Left Knee, Left Knee PCL Sprain, Right Knee Morel-Lavaelle Lesion

Games Missed: 3

Kincaid’s 2024 season was defined by injuries, with the perceived inability to prepare his body to withstand an NFL season. His injury woes started early in Week 6 when he suffered a right collarbone injury after Jets DE Michael Clemons landed on him. Kincaid appeared on the injury report with a left knee designation in Week 9 before injuring the knee further in Week 10. This injury was the result of landing on a bent knee while diving for an overthrown ball against the Indianapolis Colts. This injury resulted in a PCL sprain that forced him out of the next three games.

He struggled the rest of the season before suffering another injury to his right knee, specifically a Morel-Lavaelle lesion. This is a type of bursitis where the outer layers of the dermis of the skin shear away from the deeper structures. This potentially occurred in Week 16 against the New England Patriots. This would have caused a lot of pain and swelling to the area, limiting his production further. 

Both injuries could linger into 2025 for different reasons. The Morel-Lavaelle lesion could recur with another blow to the knee if the lesion were previously large enough. He likely had the knee drained and may also have had surgery to correct the damage. His PCL sprain should be fully healed by now with the rehab he put in this offseason, but there may be some residual laxity in the knee. This won’t necessarily cause an injury risk increase, but there may still be a confidence issue. 

The team has had a definite plan on how to manage both issues, especially with the directive that he needed to improve his durability. Kincaid should come in with a renewed sense of focus to take a step forward in his development. 

FB Reggie Gilliam 

Injury: Hip

Games Missed: 2

Gilliam missed Weeks 9 and 10 after suffering a hip injury in practice. The exact specifics of the injury were never disclosed, but Gilliam saw his workload on offense increase, though this may have been due to the injury to Dalton Kincaid. There did not appear to be any decline in performance, and I don’t expect that this should affect him in 2025.

WR Keon Coleman

Injury: Right Wrist Fracture

Games Missed: 4

Coleman was on track to have a 1000-yard rookie season, but his season was derailed due to a late-game hit by Dolphins S Jordan Poyer. This hit caused a chipped bone in his wrist that forced him to miss four games. Based on the hit and the lack of a cast during his recovery, it’s possible that this was an ulnar styloid fracture. These types of fractures don’t require immobilization, but Coleman was unable to rotate his wrist, per the Niagara-Gazette in a recent interview. This is why he was forced to miss more games than someone like Amari Cooper, who suffered his own wrist injury.

Even when he returned, Coleman was still not 100 percent, and his production showed, going over 50 yards just once in his final seven games. Fortunately, this injury will not impact his 2025 season, and this experience could help his ability to battle through future injuries. 

OL Travis Clayton

Injury: Right Shoulder Surgery

Games Missed: 20

Clayton missed the entire 2024 season after suffering a right shoulder injury during the first week of training camp. He was placed on injured reserve and underwent surgery to repair the damage, likely a rotator cuff or labrum tear. While rehabbing, he spent time learning the game of football with the hopes that the knowledge would transition to his play. 

While there is a small chance that he could injure his shoulder again, his biggest limitation will be his skills as he transitions to the NFL. I expect him to spend the season on the practice squad as the international pathway exception. 

New Players 

WR Joshua Palmer

Injuries: Foot/Heel, Elbow, Calf, Knee

Games Missed: 3

Palmer comes to the Bills after finishing his rookie contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. He has had a productive career, but injuries and the depth chart have stood in his way. He has been the second and third option in the offense in most seasons, but ill-timed injuries have also limited his availability. 

Fortunately, none of the injuries, including those from last season, should linger into 2025. With a new setting, Palmer could stay healthier and take that next step in his career.

WR Laviska Shenault

Injuries: Back/Oblique, Foot

Games Missed: 1

Shenault is a well-traveled player who flashed a lot of potential coming out of Colorado in 2020, never quite putting it altogether as a former second-round pick. Hamstring strains, AC joint sprains, high-ankles, and concussions litter his injury history, never forcing him to miss much time, but never allowing him to string success together. Considering how much he has bounced around, especially playing on two teams in 2024, I don’t think Shenault has a long leash in 2025. He must either show he can be an electric special-teams contributor or show enough on offense and stay healthy to stick around. If he suffers an injury that costs him over a week, I don’t see him making the roster. Missing mandatory minicamp with an undisclosed issue didn’t help things either. 

There is no one particular injury that he is more susceptible to, but I suspect it will be a soft tissue injury that slows him up should he suffer an injury. I could see his trajectory going much like Chase Claypool last year, lots of potential, but can’t stay healthy. 

Defense

S Cole Bishop

Injury: Left Shoulder Injury

Games Missed: 0

Bishop suffered a left shoulder injury on July 30 when he jumped up in the air during a drill and fell onto his shoulder. Trainers were checking out his ribs/back area with his arm heavily wrapped before the team stated that he would be week-to-week. Based on the location that was examined and the mechanism of injury suggested a scapular injury. There was also an unconfirmed report that this was a scapular fracture, which, looking back now with the timeline Bishop had, was likely the case. 

The injury, fortunately, did not stop Bishop from playing in 2024, but the missed reps and time on task stunted his growth during training camp. This led to an unremarkable rookie season at a position that is turning over. Bishop also missed time during mandatory minicamp this offseason with an undisclosed injury that was potentially an oblique, groin, or hip injury based on some of the rehab exercises he was performing on the sidelines. He was able to participate in the last day, and while I don’t believe this injury will linger into training camp, Bishop can’t afford any further missed time. 

He did not have a long history of injuries coming out of Utah, but hopefully, he has been able to transition his body to the rigors of the NFL to take that next step forward in 2025. 

CB Taron Johnson

Injuries: Right Forearm Fracture, Neck/Shoulder, Left Shoulder Labrum Tear

Games Missed: 4

Johnson had bookend injuries during the 2024 season that prevented him from securing back-to-back All-Pro honors. He suffered the first injury immediately when he collided with Taylor Rapp when Rapp’s helmet struck Johnson’s forearm, cracking the ulnar bone. He was forced to miss the next four games but did not go on injured reserve. As he returned, he wore padding on the area and returned to his previous level of play. He then suffered what looked to be a stinger against the Denver Broncos in the playoffs when tackle low and had to briefly leave the game. 

However, during the Baltimore Ravens divisional round game, Johnson fell awkwardly out onto his left shoulder and suffered a labrum tear. He quietly got this repaired in the offseason and wasn’t publicly disclosed until mandatory minicamp. 

The forearm fracture is a one-off event but his labrum repair could re-tear if he takes another hit or an awkward fall. Plenty of players have suffered this injury and returned to play without a drop-off in performance. I don’t know of Bills players re-tearing the labrum after surgery, including Johnson himself who suffered the same injury in 2018 to his right shoulder. I don’t believe either injury will affect his 2025 season but given he’s entering his age-29 season, one can’t help but think that he could be approaching a cliff where we see the injuries begin to pile on. 

LB Terrel Bernard 

Injury: Left Pectoral Strain, Right Ankle, Left Quad

Games Missed: 4

Bernard has become one of the best young players on the Bills roster after being an unknown his rookie season. Despite not garnering any Pro Bowl honors yet, the Bills see the future with him and inked him to a contract extension earlier this offseason. This was despite his lengthy injury history that he added to in 2024.

His injury issues started in Week 2 against Miami when he couldn’t fully wrap up a tackle and suffered a pectoral strain. This forced him out of two games and saw him wear a shoulder harness for the majority of the season. 

He added a right ankle injury in Week 7 when his right foot was stepped on, causing him to suffer an ankle sprain. This is notable as this was the same one that he injured against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2023 playoff win when he subluxed his ankle and could not play against the Kansas City Chiefs. Finally, Bernard took a hard shot to the left quad playing against the Jets trying to force Garrett Wilson out of bounds. This forced him out of the meaningless Week 18 game against the Patriots before returning for the Wild Card round. 

Bernard is an ascending player but his style of play has led to numerous injuries throughout his college and NFL career. The Bills were wise to pay him now to make his contract more palatable over the next few years, but I do expect his injury woes to continue. Linebacker depth will be tested again in 2025 with the hopes that Bernard’s latest injuries are more manageable. 

DT Ed Oliver

Injury: Left Hamstring

Games Missed: 2

Oliver suffered a left hamstring strain during Thursday’s practice before the Week 6 contest against the New York Jets. He was forced to miss two games before returning to play in Week 8 against the Tennessee Titans. When he did return, he saw a slight drop in his snap count before rebounding to normal for the remainder of the season. This injury may have lingered longer than has been let on, but Oliver was still one of the better defensive tackles for the 2024 Bills. He has shown the ability to be mostly available during his career, with one-off injuries hindering him at times. I expect more of the same from Oliver in 2025, with the hope that he can be more of a disruptor in the middle of the line. 

DE Javon Solomon

Injury: Oblique

Games Missed: 2

Solomon suffered an oblique injury just before roster cutdown day, forcing him to miss the first two weeks. Once he returned, he saw limited work on defense, with most of his snaps seen on special teams. I suspect his being a rookie was more of an issue than his injury in his development, but hopefully, he can take another step in his development and increase his defensive role in 2025. 

DT DeWayne Carter

Injury: Right Wrist Ligament Tear

Games Missed: 5

Carter was having a promising rookie season before he somersaulted out of bounds in Week 7, landing on his right wrist. He wasn’t aware of any issues with the wrist until he began to undress and could not grip items like scissors or his phone, according to The Buffalo News. Based on that description, it’s highly likely that Carter suffered a scapholunate tear within his wrist, which caused instability and surgery.

He missed five total games after spending most of his recovery on injured reserve, and he stated that he could have come back sooner. He was observed wearing a brace during mandatory minicamp, but he states this is more of a convenience than a necessity when he doesn’t want to tape his wrist up, according to the Niagara Gazette. This injury won’t necessarily affect his 2025 production, but Carter can’t afford any missed time in a crowded defensive line room. He has a chance to stand out early with the suspensions of Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi, but he needs to hit the ground running to avoid being an afterthought. 

CB Christian Benford

Injury: Right Wrist, Back, Concussions

Games Missed: 1

Benford has quickly developed into one of the best young corners in the league over the last few years and was rewarded with a lucrative extension this past offseason. Benford didn’t miss much time during the season, but his injuries were notable. He missed Week 9 due to a right wrist injury suffered in practice that week.

He later appeared on the injury report with a back injury ahead of the divisional round but suffered a concussion during the final moments of the game. Benford was able to pass through the concussion protocol in time to play in the AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but regrettably suffered another concussion after a collision with Damar Hamlin late in the first quarter, forcing him from the game. 

Despite the back-to-back concussions, he quickly cleared the concussion protocol and resumed training in the offseason. The extended time off from football, along with regular exercise, will only help him continue to recover. These were the first two concussions of his career, but this doesn’t necessarily significantly increase his risk for another one yet. It’s something to keep in the back of your mind as you watch Benford play, but he should be full go for 2025 and continue his stellar play. 

LB Baylon Spector

Injuries: Right Calf, Left Calf

Games Missed: 9

Spector missed most of the second half of the season with two separate calf strains and battled the issue pretty much all season. His woes started in the preseason when he missed some time with a right calf strain before he returned for Week 1. He then re-injured his right calf in practice before Week 10, forcing him to injured reserve. When he came back, he played in two games before re-injuring the calf in practice before Week 16, but ultimately played.

Despite the injury, he played through it and was re-injured yet again in the waning moments against the New England Patriots. He was placed on injured reserve and missed the rest of the season and the playoffs. He had also noted that he was dealing with his left calf acting up, contributing to his issues. Finally, he worked through an undisclosed injury during minicamp and did not practice.

He has shown that he is a valued special-teams contributor and has a place as a depth linebacker, but if he can’t stay healthy, then I don’t see how he makes the team this year. He has had a long history of injury issues and simply hasn’t been available. I hope he can buck the trend, but he has an uphill battle this season. 

S Taylor Rapp

Injuries: Concussion, Left Foot, Shoulder/Neck, Back, Right Hip

Games Missed: 3

Rapp suffered a variety of injuries that significantly limited his production in his first full year as a starter. He started with a concussion in Week 4 that forced him out of the Week 5 contest against the Houston Texans. He then began dealing with a left foot issue during practice before Week 8. He added a shoulder injury in Week 10 that morphed into a neck/shoulder injury, forcing him out of Weeks 15 and 16. 

Finally, he added a right hip/back injury following a collision with Damar Hamlin against the Baltimore Ravens, where Hamlin’s knee hit Rapp in the back. He was unable to practice all week and missed the AFC Championship game. 

Rapp is an incredibly physical player who puts his body on the line every play, which results in frequent injuries to himself and others. Nothing from last season is apparent in that it will linger, but it’s entirely possible. A player of Rapp’s caliber is valued in the Bills defense, but steady depth behind him is imperative when, not if, Rapp is out again. 

LB Matt Milano

Injuries: Left Bicep Tear, Groin, Hamstring

Games Missed: 12

Milano had a rough 2024 season as he worked back from his right tibial plateau fracture suffered in Week 5 of the 2023 season. When he did return, he looked a step slower and not quite up to speed early in training camp. That was expected to improve as he got his legs back under him, but a left biceps tear during a tackling drill led to another surgery and missing the first 11 games. The only silver lining was that this allowed him to further rehab his knee. 

When he returned in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers, he jumped right back wearing a hinged elbow brace. As he worked his way back, he suffered a groin strain in Week 15 that forced him out for one week, and later dealt with hamstring soreness ahead of the AFC Championship game.

The Bills and Milano decided to adjust his contract to make 2025 his last season to help mitigate their risks. If Milano has another solid season, he can hit free agency or re-sign with the Bills. If he struggles, the Bills aren’t tied to an injured player. None of his injuries should linger into 2025, outside of the hamstring strains that followed him throughout his career. I anticipate that Milano bounces back and is healthy most of the season. What his play looks like may ultimately determine his future. 

S Damar Hamlin

Injuries: Ankle, Ribs

Games Missed: 3

Hamlin was a steady presence in the secondary, seeing more playing time as a result of Cole Bishop’s shoulder injury in the preseason. He started 14 regular-season games and saw >90% of snaps in every game. He worked through an ankle injury suffered in Week 7 but did not miss any time.

He later suffered a rib injury late in the season against the Detroit Lions that forced him to miss three games. There weren’t a lot of details as to the exact issue with his ribs, but this allowed Cole Bishop to get valuable starting reps. 

Despite missing reps during mandatory minicamp due to a right foot/ankle issue that required a boot at one point, none of these injuries should impact Hamlin for 2025. However, with Bishop’s youth and Rapp’s propensity for injuries, I would expect Hamlin to have a depth role at safety unless someone can unseat him during training camp.

LB Dorian Williams

Injury: Left Knee, Left Elbow

Games Missed: 0

Williams suffered a left knee sprain against the Tennessee Titans in Week 7, forcing him to wear a hinged brace for the next several weeks as he worked through a likely MCL sprain. During Week 15, his left elbow was sandwiched between several players, forcing him to miss most of the game before returning with a hinged elbow brace. In this instance, he potentially suffered a UCL sprain that he worked through for the rest of the season. 

He was observed wearing the brace again during minicamp, either as a precaution or the elbow was bothering him again. It wouldn’t surprise me or necessarily concern me if he continues to wear the brace, but neither injury should greatly affect him for 2025. 

New Players

LB Shaq Thompson

Injury: Left Achilles tear

Thompson was a late addition to the roster ahead of mandatory minicamp following his release from the Carolina Panthers earlier this offseason. He missed camp as he was still working back from his left Achilles’ tear suffered in Week 4. Thompson’s knowledge is a welcome addition to the Bills’ defense, but I am not anticipating much production from him. Typically, there is a decline in performance the season following an Achilles tear, and adding in his fibular fracture the year prior, he has a ways to go. 

I see Thompson as a steady depth option or spending the season on the practice squad. Any production is essentially found money, but if he can mentor some of the young players and step in occasionally, then that is all that is needed.

CB Maxwell Hairston

Injury: Left Hamstring

Hairston suffered a left hamstring tweak during the second day of mandatory minicamp and was held out as a precaution. It’s not known how he injured the area, but considering he has had no time off since last season, it’s almost expected that rookies are working through nagging issues or are more susceptible to tweaks. 

He has had ample time to rehab and hopefully will not have any recurrence during training camp. Otherwise, he has no concerns for 2025.

DT Deone Walker

Injury: Lumbar Spondylolisthesis 

Walker continues to slowly ramp up his workload as he deals with his lumbar spondylolisthesis, which is a stress fracture in his low back found during the NFL Combine. This hampered his production significantly during his final year of college and contributed to his fall in the draft. The Bills have shown a clear plan for how they want to work him in, increasing his workload slowly.

I expect to see Walker continue to have a limited workload as he transforms his body to meet the demands of the NFL. We will see how much playing time he gets during the regular season, but I will not be concerned if he shows up on the injury report with a back designation intermittently. I hope this first year is spent allowing Walker to adjust to the NFL.

DE Landon Jackson

Injury: Undisclosed

Jackson was a surprise addition to the PUP list on July 15 when rookies reported to training camp. The specifics of his injury are unknown, and reports indicate that this is a precautionary measure, with the expectation that he will be ready for training camp. He did participate in the Sack Summit on June 26-27, which narrows down the timeline when this could have occurred. This may have also been another injury that isn’t publicly known. This will be something to monitor for now until more information is provided.

There was an unconfirmed report that Jackson is dealing with back/neck soreness participating during the Sack Summit last month. This soreness was allegedly related due to a neck surgery he had due to his neck injury during his final collegiate game. If he did have surgery, this wasn’t publicly reported during the draft process. Hopefully we will have more information in the coming days once training camp starts.

CB Tre’Davious White

Injuries: Left ACL, Right Achilles

White is back on a one-year deal after spending last season with the Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Ravens. That season came after the 2021 season saw him tear his left ACL on Thanksgiving and his right Achilles’ tendon early during the 2023 season. He is a welcome veteran addition to the secondary room, but his best days are behind him. 

His chance for re-injury is rather low, given what has happened to him. But the All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods aren’t expected to continue, as a return to that level is exceptionally rare based on the available comparables at his position. 

DE Joey Bosa 

Injury: Calf

Bosa started off his Buffalo Bills career just like he finished his Los Angeles Chargers career, injured. He suffered a calf strain working out on the final day of Phase 2 OTA’s in late May. As a precaution, the Bills’ training staff held him out of mandatory minicamp to allow him to rehab. He was observed running and increasing his speed work off to the side, indicating that this was a minor injury.

Unfortunately, injuries have greatly impacted Bosa’s ability to consistently be effective season to season. The Bills have a game plan on how to manage his body and workload to get him through the season. I expect him to be full go for training camp, but have frequent veteran rest days to avoid injury. This was a solid signing, but his health needs to be prioritized. I don’t expect him to avoid injury entirely, but ideally, he can be available most weeks. 

Free Agency

Click on each name for a more detailed breakdown of each player.

WR Joshua Palmer

LB/DE/DT Michael Hoecht

DE Joey Bosa

S Darrick Forrest

DT Larry Ogunjobi

WR Laviska Shenault

CB Dane Jackson

G Kendrick Green

P Brad Robbins

CB Tre’Davious White

WR Elijah Moore

DT Casey Rogers

WR Kristian Wilkerson

DT Marcus Harris

LB Shaq Thompson

Draft Picks

CB Maxwell Hairston

DT TJ Sanders

DE Landon Jackson

DE Deone Walker

CB Jordan Hancock

TE Jackson Hawes

CB Dorian Strong

OT Chase Lundt

WR Kaden Prather

UDFA’s

Final Thoughts

This team is built for the long term and with a heavy focus on defense. The Bills are making a point to get their core pieces in place and make another run with Josh Allen under center as the roster continues to get younger. 

This team is very capable of 12-14 wins, even accounting for injuries, and should win the AFC East again. The rest of the division can compete and may steal a game, but the Bills are the best team top to bottom, barring injury to Josh Allen. Even if he misses time this year, they can still tread water as long as he can eventually return. 

This should be another great season for the Buffalo Bills as they look to break through and make the Super Bowl as the AFC representative. This team is capable of winning the whole thing. It comes down to matchups, game plan, injuries, and a little bit of luck. 

Top Photo Credit: Joshua Bessex/AP


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