The Buffalo Bills had one of their best wins of the season in Week 11, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 44-32. However, they had to do so without Dalton Kincaid, who’s nursing a hamstring injury and was deemed inactive to play.
The Bills have a short turnaround, facing the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football in an important game for both sides. Keeping that in mind, let’s take a look at Kincaid’s status for the Texans clash.
Will Dalton Kincaid Play Against The Texans? Latest on Tight End for Week 12
Teams that play on Thursday Night Football usually don’t practice. Instead, they hold walkthroughs during the week, with the injury report based on estimations.
On Monday, Bills head coach Sean McDermott explained that Kincaid, along with Phidarian Mathis, Curtis Samuel, and Mecole Hardman, would be listed as “did not participate” (DNP) for their walkthroughs. Their availability for Week 12 is in doubt.
Bills HC Sean McDermott said TE Dalton Kincaid, DT Phidarian Mathis, WR Mecole Hardman and WR Curtis Samuel will be listed as ‘did not participate’ for Monday’s walkthrough.
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) November 17, 2025
It’s difficult to say that the Bills missed Kincaid. After all, they put together a great performance in Week 11, with Allen throwing for three touchdowns and running for three more. The offense was aided by wide receiver Tyrell Shavers, who had four receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown.
Wide receiver Keon Coleman also missed the game. He was inactive due to arriving late to a meeting on Friday. He continues to have disciplinary issues, and the Bills decided that it was enough to keep him out for a game.
Still, the offense could use a tight end of Kincaid’s caliber. He has 448 yards and four touchdowns during the season. He’s also ranked as the No. 3 tight end in PFSN’s TE Impact Metric, behind Tucker Kraft and Tyler Warren. He’s undeniable one of the best players on the offense, even if they had a good game.
If Kincaid is out, the Bills will return to Dawson Knox as their primary receiving option at the tight end position. Against the Buccaneers, Knox had just one reception for 23 yards. He’s not the same player as in previous years, and he’s just not able to provide the same impact as Kincaid.
The Texans have one of the league’s best defenses, but are likely to be without C.J. Stroud, still recovering from a concussion. A win for the Bills would be massive for their aspirations and their fight for the AFC East in 2025.