Bills’ Josh Allen and the offense finally get the injury news they’ve waited for ahead of pivotal playoff trip vs. Broncos

An exciting update that came at the perfect time for Buffalo.

Adam Zientek NFL News Writer
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) calls a play during the first quarter of an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24.
Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Buffalo Bills are making their final preparations for the upcoming divisional showdown against the Denver Broncos. Win, and you’re in the AFC Championship game. Lose, and you’re back in Western New York for the long offseason.

It wasn’t a great start to the week with wide receivers Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers tearing their ACLs and being done for the season. Quarterback Josh Allen once again loses some important weapons at the most inopportune time. Shavers actually finished the game against the Jaguars after tearing his ACL, appearing for 21 snaps in the second half.

Curtis Samuel returns at the perfect time for Buffalo

Fortunately, the team got some good news on the injury front, as wide receiver Curtis Samuel was a full participant for the second day in a row. At this point, getting anybody back is a huge boost for the offense since receivers have been dropping like flies. Yes, Allen can take over a game at any moment, but he still needs someone to catch the ball. While it’s still early in the week, it’s an encouraging sign that Buffalo may be getting back an important piece on offense at the perfect time.

Samuel hasn’t lit the league on fire since joining Buffalo, but he is a viable option, and he might be getting some extra targets due to the lack of receivers on the roster. It looks like it’ll be Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Brandin Cooks, Curtis Samuel, and then whoever Buffalo calls up from the practice squad, paired with the tight ends, of course. There are still some moves to be made for the roster to be gameday-ready, but it was a step in the right direction for Buffalo.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the Wednesday injury report.

Buffalo Bills’ Wednesday injury report

PlayerInjuryT/W/Thu
QB Josh AllenFoot/Knee/R FingerLimited/Full
LB Terrel BernardCalfLimited/Limited
DE A.J. EpenesaNeckLimited/Limited
CB Maxwell HairstonAnkleDNP/DNP
S Damar Hamlin (IR)PectoralFull/Full
RB Ty JohnsonAnkleDNP/DNP
TE Dalton KincaidKnee/CalfLimited/Limited
LB Matt MilanoAnkleLimited/Limited
DT Ed OliverBicepLimited/Limited
S Jordan PoyerHamstringDNP/DNP
K Matt PraterR Quad/R CalfDNP/Full
DE Greg RousseauBackLimited/Limited
WR Curtis Samuel (IR)ElbowFull/Full
WR Tyrell Shavers KneeDNP/DNP
LB Shaq ThompsonNeckNA/Limited

Observations

Anytime Allen is on the injury report, it gives cause for concern. Fortunately, not much has changed, and Allen even claimed that he’s feeling the best he has in weeks. It will take a lot to keep him out of the contest. Despite having three separate injuries on the report, he’ll be a full-go on Saturday. As long as No. 17 is on the field, Buffalo has a chance to win any game. He was a full participant in practice along with kicker Matt Prater.

Defensive tackle Ed Oliver was spotted in a normal jersey at practice. Those who are battling injuries can sometimes be seen in a red non-contact jersey, but seeing Oliver without one should give fans a little bit of hope for his availability.

His 21-day practice window has just opened, and it’s yet to be determined if he will see the field on Saturday. Still, it was nice for the fan base to see Oliver back on the field and working with the team.

With safety Jordan Poyer not expected to play Saturday, the team got another boost in that safety Damar Hamlin could return. Again, at this point of the season, it’s about getting bodies back on the field, and if the team can get Hamlin back for the contest, it adds another player. Hamlin is no Poyer, but Buffalo desperately needs some help on the backend. Hamlin is coming off injured reserve and was a full participant Tuesday and Wednesday.

At this stage of the season, style points don’t matter: availability does. Buffalo isn’t getting healthier overnight, but Wednesday’s injury report showed signs of life where it matters most: bodies trending in the right direction, and Allen still standing. It won’t be pretty, and it won’t be perfect, but if the Bills can get just enough help around their franchise quarterback, they’ll give themselves a fighting chance to keep the season alive one more week. In January, sometimes that’s all you need.