The Buffalo Bills are heading into the home stretch of the regular season with the playoffs in sight and a massive Week 14 showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals on deck. At 8-4, Buffalo is right in the thick of the AFC playoff race-but they’re also dealing with a wave of injuries that could complicate things as they gear up for a critical December run.
Injury Report: Key Names Missing from Practice
Edge rusher Joey Bosa will be sidelined from Wednesday’s practice after tweaking his hamstring in the fourth quarter of last week’s win over the Steelers. Bosa’s been a key piece in Buffalo’s front seven, so any time missed-especially during a week with Joe Burrow and the Bengals on the schedule-is cause for concern.
Bosa isn’t alone on the sideline. Wide receiver Joshua Palmer and linebacker Terrel Bernard are also not practicing Wednesday. While the team hasn’t disclosed the full extent of their injuries, their absence at this stage of the week is worth monitoring.
On a slightly more optimistic note, several other starters will be limited participants in practice. Right tackle Spencer Brown, left tackle Dion Dawkins, and tight end Dalton Kincaid are all expected to be on the field in a reduced capacity.
That’s a small win, but it’s not without caveats-especially in Dawkins’ case, as he remains in the league’s concussion protocol. His status for Sunday is very much up in the air.
And let’s not forget, the Bills are already down several key defensive players to injured reserve. Safety Taylor Rapp, safety Damar Hamlin, defensive tackle Ed Oliver, and defensive end Michael Hoecht are all sidelined. That’s a serious chunk of talent missing from a defense that’s been leaned on heavily throughout the season.
Internal Turbulence: Keon Coleman’s Rough Patch
As if the injury bug wasn’t enough, Buffalo’s also dealing with some internal friction. Rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman was benched recently after reportedly missing multiple team meetings.
The team didn’t take the situation lightly, citing concerns about his professionalism. But despite the hiccup, the Bills are standing by their young wideout.
“It’s a professionalism thing - but he’s going to be OK,” a team source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “We need him.”
Coleman wasn’t in danger of being released, and the team has already started reintegrating him into the offense. He played 33 snaps on Sunday, a clear sign that Buffalo is ready to move forward and get him back into the mix.
And they’ll need him. With the offense still searching for consistency, Coleman’s size and explosiveness could be a real asset-if he’s locked in.
Looking Ahead: A Pivotal Week 14 Matchup
This weekend’s game against Cincinnati is more than just another date on the calendar. It’s a litmus test for where this team stands heading into the final month of the regular season. The Bengals are surging, and Buffalo can’t afford to limp into that matchup-figuratively or literally.
The Bills need their stars healthy and their locker room tight. There’s still time to get right, but the margin for error is shrinking fast. Sunday’s kickoff is set for 1PM ET, and with playoff seeding hanging in the balance, expect both teams to come out swinging.
Buffalo’s postseason push is officially on. Now it’s about staying healthy, staying focused, and showing they’ve got what it takes to make a deep run.