The Buffalo Bills have designated their starting tight end, Dawson Knox, for return from injured reserve. Knox has a 21-day practice window before he can be elevated to the active roster. If Buffalo doesn’t activate him in that 21-day window, he will miss the rest of the season.
Knox broke his right wrist in Week 5 but managed to play the next two games before he underwent wrist surgery on October 23 and was placed on injured reserve.
How did the Buffalo Bills’ tight end perform in the first seven games?
Knox has been a major disappointment this season. He has 15 receptions on 28 targets for 102 yards and one touchdown.
Knox is averaging a career-low 14.6 yards per game. He has four drops, two interceptions, a passer rating of 44 when targeted, a 51.7 PFF Grade, and represented 68% of offensive snaps in those seven games.
Who took over for the injured Knox?
Dalton Kincaid has taken over as the starting tight end. The Buffalo Bills drafted Dalton Kincaid in the 1st round, 25th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Kincaid entered his rookie season as the backup to Knox.
Kincaid has done a good job in his rookie season. He has 31 receptions on 37 targets for 281 yards and two touchdowns in the last five games. He has 56 receptions on 64 targets for 474 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Kincaid is averaging 43.1 yards per game. He has two drops, one interception, a passer rating of 101.4 when targeted, a 67.9 PFF Grade, and represents 66% of offensive snaps.
Kincaid has received praise from head coach Sean McDermott:
“When given the opportunity, he’s taken advantage of it and made the most of it. When that happens you see more opportunities, it’s just how it works. You never want to see a player go down in Dawson, but sometimes it allows another player–in this case, a young player–to come onto the scene a little bit more and show us what he’s got. He’s done well.”
Knox has been helping Kincaid on the sideline:
“I know as a rookie it’s easy to have the high highs and the low lows, so just keeping everybody level, keeping everybody just controlling what they can. Also, if I see something in the defense and maybe [Kincaid] doesn’t, maybe bringing something to his attention, but he’s so smart already he’ll have most of it handled himself.”
Knox returned to practice this week.
Knox returned to practice on Wednesday and has a chance of playing on Sunday. Here’s what Knox said about how his wrist is feeling:
“Just talking to Joe, I think this is the most fresh I’ve ever felt in Week 13 or 14 of a season before. I got some great time to get the legs back ready. The wrist feels great. Big shoutout to the strength staff and the training staff here putting in the hours and the time. But thankful to be back with the team.”
Will Buffalo make the Playoffs?
Buffalo is ranked 2nd in the AFC East with a 6-6 record and is ranked 10th in the AFC Playoff Picture.
They play at Kansas City in Week 14, at home against Dallas in Week 15, at Los Angeles (Chargers) in Week 16, at home against New England in Week 17, and at Miami in the season finale.
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