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Alaina Getzenberg, ESPN
ORCHARD PARK, NY — The Buffalo Bills will be without another key member of the offense against the Kansas City Chiefs, as tight end Dalton Kincaid was ruled out Friday for Sunday’s game.
Kincaid, who is dealing with a left knee injury suffered in the team’s win last week against the Colts, joins rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman in being unavailable to play for the Bills in the key AFC matchup ( 4:25 pm EST, CBS).
This will be the second game Kincaid has missed in his career and the first this season. The second-year tight end leads the team in targets (59) and is second in receptions (34). He has caught two touchdown passes this season.
“I mean, there’s certainly some pivoting to do in some areas,” McDermott said of Kincaid’s absence. “[Offensive coordinator Joe Brady] He’s done a great job with that and with the staff as well, and there’s a lot of communication, a lot of, ‘Hey, what are we good at? What is this player best at? And at the same time I’m trying to make sure we’re aware of what the Chiefs plan to do.”
Without Kincaid, tight end Dawson Knox will likely have a larger role. When Kincaid was held out of all but two snaps in the second half against Indianapolis as he tried to return, the Bills still used about 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) on nine snaps with backup tight end Quintin Morris also on the line. He’ll likely play more offense in this absence, but Kincaid’s absence will likely bring more 11-man usage in addition to other changes.
Coleman’s absence for the second straight game will give more opportunities to other receivers, such as Mack Hollins, who had four receptions for 86 yards against the Colts, although a question mark remains as wide receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) is expected to feature. as questionable against the Chiefs. He has been listed as limited in practice for three straight weeks and has missed the previous two games due to a left wrist injury.
Cooper said, “Yes, I do,” when asked if he thought he would play Sunday and that he would play with the short cast on his left hand.
“We’ll see. Yeah, I’ll know more today,” McDermott said of Cooper. “I will meet with [trainer Nate Breske] a little bit after this practice with a couple of those guys.”
The other injury for this offense is to right tackle Spencer Brown, who sprained his ankle against the Colts and is expected to be listed as questionable. The Bills offensive line is off to a strong and consistent start without any starters missing time. Buffalo has allowed sacks on the lowest percentage of dropbacks this season (3.8%).
