The Buffalo Bills haven’t been nearly as dominant as most people expected. After going to the AFC Championship Game last season on the back of Josh Allen winning the MVP, hope was that the team could take a step forward with a relatively young roster.
However, so far this year, their performances have been underwhelming more often than not. Facing a quality opponent in Week 11 on the heels of a disastrous loss to the Miami Dolphins could make matters significantly worse, especially with the unfortunate updates regarding Dalton Kincaid and Khalil Shakir for the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Will Dalton Kincaid and Khalil Shakir Play Against the Buccaneers?
The 6-3 record might not show it, but Buffalo hasn’t been wildly impressive so far this season, certainly not to their Super Bowl contender status. The defense, in particular, has been the focus of grievance. Against the run, they are giving up close to 5.5 rushing yards per attempt, a startling number that has led to three losses in their last five games. But another cause of concern that is steadily creeping up is the offense.
Josh Allen hasn’t been nearly as clean running the show as he was last year when he won MVP. Even though the dip for Allen in PFSN’s QB Impact (first to fourth) is minuscule, the Bills have already surpassed their season total for turnovers from last season.
Alongside the turnover concerns, the passing offense hasn’t been very productive, relying on a dink and dunk style rather than consistently moving the ball at will. Unfortunately, things could get markedly worse when they face Tampa Bay.
According to the Thursday injury report from the official Bills page on X, Shakir was a limited participant in both practices with injuries to his ankle and ribs, while Kincaid did not practice this week at all.
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As the two lead receivers on the team, with 905 receiving yards and seven touchdowns (nearly half of the team’s total at 15), they are vital to any chance Buffalo has to succeed in the coming weeks.
On Friday, the Bills announced that Kincaid will not play in Week 11. However, Shakir was a full participant in Friday’s practice and is ready to play on Sunday.
Friday injury report pic.twitter.com/ZXVXpQGs86
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) November 14, 2025
Thanks to the monstrous start from the New England Patriots, they have taken a sizeable lead in the division, especially by winning their head-to-head matchup.
After not making a major move at the trade deadline, the Bills’ deficiencies in the passing game could only be more exposed against Tampa Bay. As a result, expect Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, and Dawson Knox to instead play a major role in the game plan this Sunday.