Dalton Kincaid has been a bright spot for the Buffalo Bills whenever he’s actually on the field…and that’s been the problem. The 2023 first-round tight end delivered his best game of the season in Week 6 with six catches for 108 yards, only for the following week to spark a string of injuries that kept derailing his momentum.
Could Dalton Kincaid Play Against the Bengals?
After missing Week 7 with an oblique issue, Kincaid bounced back with another 100-yard outing in Week 9. Unfortunately, it was only to suffer a hamstring injury the very next week. That hamstring has now sidelined him for three straight games.
But things took another troubling turn on Friday, when head coach Sean McDermott revealed that a knee issue had resurfaced for Kincaid. And that’s where the alarm bells really start ringing.
This isn’t just any knee problem. Kincaid missed four games last season with a Grade 2 PCL sprain in the same right knee. That’s precisely where he’s been dealing with the hamstring injury this year. The overlap is concerning. It’s not uncommon for players to stress one area of the body while compensating for another, creating a cycle that’s hard to break.
Kincaid was limited during Friday’s “fast” session, and while he moved reasonably well, he clearly wasn’t testing the knee. He remains officially listed as questionable.
Dalton Kincaid (hamstring, knee) listed questionable for Week 14.
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) December 5, 2025
All of this comes as the Bills prepare for a massive matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. A win moves Buffalo to 9-4 and keeps the AFC East very much within reach, especially with another crack at the division-leading Patriots still ahead. Cincinnati, meanwhile, is trying to claw back into the AFC North race at 5-8, hoping to gain ground on the winner of the Baltimore-Pittsburgh matchup.
For Buffalo, the potential return of Kincaid can’t be overstated. Before the injury, he was tracking toward a career-best 952 yards and had already set a new personal high with four touchdown receptions. He’s become one of Josh Allen’s most important weapons.
The numbers tell the whole story. With Kincaid, the Bills’ passing offense ranks in the top five at 240.5 yards per game. Without him, they tumble into the bottom 10 at just 195.0. Buffalo is 2-2 without him this season.
And it’s not like anyone else has stepped up. Aside from Khalil Shakir, the receiving corps has been underwhelming. Keon Coleman, Tyrell Shavers, Elijah Moore, and Josh Palmer have not produced consistently. Brandin Cooks has yet to contribute on the field, even if he’s been a positive locker-room presence.
That’s why Sunday looms so large. According to PFSN’s TE metric, Kincaid carries an 87.5 impact score, ranking second among all tight ends. For the Bills, that impact isn’t theoretical. It’s the difference between a functioning offense and one gasping for answers.
