Bills unlock a potential killer duo on offense in latest injury report, Josh Allen has added confidence heading into playoffs

A crucial update heading into the playoffs for Buffalo.

Adam Zientek NFL News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Jan 4, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) warms up before the game against the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium.
Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Bills are gearing up for the highly anticipated matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the NFL playoffs. Quarterback Josh Allen spoke to the media ahead of the contest about some areas that he needs to improve on if the team wants to walk away with a victory.

One area he didn’t discuss was injuries, and oh boy, do the Buffalo Bills have a lengthy injury report once again. On Wednesday, there was a last-second addition to the list in wide receiver Josh Palmer, potentially leaving Allen shorthanded for the upcoming contest.

Getting back tight end Dalton Kincaid will be of the utmost importance for Buffalo. He’s a one-man wrecking crew when he’s on the field, and it’s an area that Jacksonville struggles to maintain. All eyes will be on Kincaid as he progresses through the week, though it’s looking good for his chances to play on Sunday, as he was just limited in practice for consecutive days.

Allen got a timely boost with Kincaid’s health continuing to improve. Kincaid and Allen combined are one of the most deadly combos in the NFL, and they’ll need Kincaid to be effective against a Jaguars team that struggles to shut down tight ends.

Let’s dive in and take a look at how Thursday’s injury report is shaping up for Buffalo.

Buffalo Bills’ Thursday injury report

PlayerInjuryW/T/F
QB Josh AllenFootFull/Full
LB Terrel BernardCalfDNP/DNP
S Cole BishopRibsFull/Full
DE Joey BosaHamstringFull/Full
CB Maxwell HairstonAnkleDNP/DNP
S Damar Hamlin (IR)PectoralLimited/Limited
RB Ty JohnsonAnkleDNP/DNP
DT DaQuan JonesCalfLimited/Limited
TE Dalton KincaidKneeLimited/Limited
DB Cam LewisToeFull/Full
LB Matt MilanoIllnessDNP/Full
WR Joshua PalmerAnkleDNP/DNP
S Jordan PoyerHamstringLimited/Limited
K Matt PraterRight QuadDNP/Full
DT T.J. SandersShoulderNA/Full
LB Shaq ThompsonNeckLimited/Limited

Observations

The DNPs remained the same as on Wednesday, with plenty of time for things to turn around. Safety Jordan Poyer once again missed practice. If he can’t go, the team could lean on safety Damar Hamlin, who just had his 21-day practice window opened from the injured reserve. Still, Poyer has been playing exceptionally alongside safety Cole Bishop, and the Bills Mafia wants nothing more than to see those two paired up on the field for Sunday.

Finally, there’s kicker Matt Prater. The team brought in some emergency reinforcements, including kicker Matthew Wright, in case Prater is unable to go. Now, Prater did say that he’s “pretty confident” he’ll suit up under the bright lights of the playoffs. He was a full participant.

Ultimately, it’s another week where Buffalo’s margin for error hinges on health as much as execution. If a few key names can trend the right way over the next 48 hours, the Bills will give Josh Allen enough firepower to survive and advance, despite the growing list of concerns.