Injured offensive tackle Spencer Brown participated in practice all week. Timothy T Ludwig / Getty Images
The Buffalo Bills raced out to a 4-0 start to begin the 2025 season, but it’s certainly felt like an entirely different year given how things have gone recently. Since that Week 4 win over the New Orleans Saints, the Bills have been the definition of average.
Four wins, four losses. Sometimes the offense took its turn as the lesser unit, and other times it was the defense. Inconsistency has reigned supreme over the last eight games, and it’s left the Bills 2.5 games behind in the AFC East race, and only in the final AFC Wild Card spot.
Especially after a big Week 13 win, the Bills know they have an opportunity to challenge how things have gone recently. And head coach Sean McDermott stressed urgency to begin the week.
“I don’t think we can afford to be inconsistent. Not now. Not that you can ever be, don’t get me wrong, but our backs are against the wall. That’s the way it is and that’s our mindset,” McDermott said Wednesday. “I think we’re all aware of some of that [inconsistency], but there’s no time for that right now. So, we’ve got to go.”
Awaiting them in a Week 14 home matchup will be a Cincinnati Bengals team that has notoriously given the Bills problems in recent years and is attempting to claw back into the playoff race.
As the Bills get ready for that test, here’s our Week 14 Bills notebook and how their team might look this weekend:
Where do things stand with Bills’ injured starting OTs?
The Bills were without left tackle Dion Dawkins and right tackle Spencer Brown against the Steelers, but they made the most out of the situation. The game plan had a heavy emphasis on running the ball, and as the film uncovered, they gave left tackle Ryan Van Demark and right tackle Alec Anderson help at a higher rate than they had this season with Dawkins and Brown. The Bills got through that game and blew out the Steelers in the second half, but that might be the only game they’re without that pairing.Dawkins and Brown each practiced on Wednesday and Thursday. Both players were limited on Wednesday, though it improved for Dawkins on Thursday. When players are in concussion protocol like Dawkins has been since the Texans game, they are always in a non-contact jersey if they are still considered to be “limited.” However, Dawkins was in a normal practice jersey on Thursday, signaling that he’s graduated to full participation and seemingly close to being out of concussion protocol. Dawkins was indeed listed as a full participant on Thursday, putting him on track to play against the Bengals barring any setbacks. Brown might be more in question than Dawkins at this point due to his shoulder injury, but the right tackle participating the entire week is a solid indicator that he could be active. The Bills have previously taken it slow with some starters who have practiced the entire week, but given the stakes and the matchup, Brown is likely pushing very hard to play.
A dire DE situation developing with Joey Bosa’s injury
In the late stages of the Bills’ win over the Steelers, the Bills suffered yet another injury to a position that has been ravaged by them recently. Joey Bosa, one of the team’s starting defensive ends and one of Buffalo’s most important defenders, left the game with a hamstring injury and was classified as “week-to-week” by the Bills. Although McDermott didn’t know exactly how long Bosa would be out, he seemed to indicate that the defensive end would likely be out for at least a game or two. For a room that has already lost Michael Hoecht and Landon Jackson to Injured Reserve with long-term injuries, the Bills were already in a spot where they had to use defensive tackle T.J. Sanders at defensive end for the last three games. That might have to continue given yet another development at defensive end.Veteran A.J. Epenesa, who was ticketed to not only start in Bosa’s place, but to also likely play a huge role for defensive snaps, was a sudden non-participant during Thursday’s practice. Epenesa, who was not listed on the injury report on Wednesday, popped up Thursday with a foot injury. That now puts Epenesa’s availability for Sunday in clear doubt, and puts the Bills in a real bind at defensive end.
If Bosa and Epenesa cannot play, the only healthy defensive end on their roster they trust with a ton of snaps is Greg Rousseau. He likely takes on a humongous role Sunday — possibly one of the most significant single-game roles we’ve ever seen for a defensive end from the rotation-heavy Bills. Rousseau will be joined by Sanders, who will need to play defensive end again out of necessity and Javon Solomon, who primarily plays on special teams.
However, even that isn’t enough. With Bosa out at minimum, the most likely practice squad defensive end to get the call-up in some capacity is Morgan Fox, who is now in his fourth full week with the team. Shaq Lawson would likely receive some consideration if Epenesa can’t play, despite Lawson only being back for less than two weeks. The Bills could also consider using DaQuan Jones at defensive end a bit and having Phidarian Mathis active to play defensive tackle if they don’t feel Lawson is ready for game action just yet.
Much like last week at offensive tackle, the Bills are likely just going to try and get through it as best they can if they don’t have Epenesa. A heavy dose of Rousseau, possibly near the 90-percent of snaps mark, plus a flat amount of snaps for the rest of the defensive end options, could be their optimal play given the extreme circumstances.
Dalton Kincaid could have a big impact on the Bills’ offense if he is healthy enough to play against the Bengals.Jeff Romance / Imagn Images
It’s a Dalton Kincaid game if he plays at full health. Will he and is he?
As the Bills will look to keep pace with the explosive Bengals offense, tight end Dalton Kincaid could be a major player. When healthy, Kincaid is one of their best pass-catching targets and the only player who consistently challenges defenses in the intermediate to deep middle areas of the field. Even though his snap counts are usually low, his route percentages are very strong because the Bills generally use him in passing situations the vast majority of the time. Along with that, the Bengals have struggled significantly against pass-catching tight ends all season long. Throughout 2025, the Bengals have allowed the most targets, catches, receiving yards and touchdowns to tight ends in the NFL. They have allowed 256 more receiving yards to tight ends than the second-worst team in the league, while also allowing five more touchdowns to tight ends than the next closest defense. The opportunity is ripe for Kincaid to be that guy for the Bills this week.However, uncertainty surrounds him, just as it has at different stages of his Bills career. Just as it seemed like Kincaid was turning the corner on a hamstring injury that cost him his last three games, he popped up on the Bills’ injury report with an added knee injury to go along with his hamstring. Then, during Thursday’s practice, Kincaid was sporting a sizable brace on his knee, which puts his potential output into question. Even if Kincaid can play Sunday, it is worth remembering that knee injuries plagued him during the second half of his 2024 season and ultimately ate into his usual role on the team. The Bills may just be overly cautious, but the steps they took on the injury report and in giving him the knee brace make you think there is at least some level of hesitation about that new injury distinction. After getting through the week of practice, it’s an encouraging sign that he’ll actually be available Sunday. However, it’s something worth monitoring to see if he changes his role against the Bengals if active.
No Darius Slay. Now what?
Not since the days of Dri Archer in 2016 have the Bills put in a waiver claim on a player, only to be rebuffed by them and told they wouldn’t be showing up. That’s the case with cornerback Darius Slay, who informed the Bills that he would not be reporting as he takes some time to mull retirement. That’s the reason given, though many are postulating that Slay, who turns 35 in less than a month, was hoping to get back to the cornerback-needy Philadelphia Eagles. Slay had spent five seasons with the Eagles before signing with the Steelers for 2025. Regardless, the Bills — at least for now — still retain Slay’s rights while he ponders his future. There was nothing more to the Slay claim than the Bills looking for an insurance policy at cornerback, and to upgrade the fourth cornerback on their roster — Ja’Marcus Ingram, who they released. If Slay has a change of heart and reports to the Bills, that’s the role he would fill.The good news for the Bills is that they likely won’t have to stay in a holding pattern with Slay regarding their roster flexibility. The team will have the option to place Slay on the reserve/did not report list, which should grant the Bills the 53-man roster spot that Slay previously filled. Although they will eventually get the roster spot back, Ingram still had to go through waivers. And in another tough development for them in this situation, Ingram was claimed by the Houston Texans. The Bills were quite likely to try and get Ingram back, possibly on the practice squad, but that is no longer an option, making practice squad cornerback Dane Jackson the new No. 4 on the depth chart. Ingram getting claimed very well could increase the odds that the Bills just hang on to Slay’s rights until the player decides to report or retire.
Bills projected roster moves: Place Darius Slay on Reserve/Did Not Report list, sign DE Morgan Fox to the 53-man roster
Bills projected practice squad elevations: LB Baylon Spector
Bills projected inactives vs. Bengals**: WR Joshua Palmer, OT Chase Lundt, OT Tylan Grable, DE Joey Bosa, DT Phidarian Mathis, LB Terrel Bernard
(**Subject to change after Friday’s practice)
Prediction: Bengals 31, Bills 27
The Bills’ defense has been playing much better, but a few factors suggest this could be a high-scoring affair. The Bills are going to be up against a desperate Bengals team that just got Joe Burrow back into the lineup last week and scored over 30 points in his return, and they might get Tee Higgins back this week. The Bengals are coming off a huge victory, and with the Ravens and Steelers meeting this weekend, they know they need a win to stay within two games of the division lead. If there’s more reason for McDermott saying what he said this week, it’s likely because he knows the Bengals will bring extreme urgency to the matchup. On top of that, the Bills will be without their best pass-rushing defensive end, the Bengals’ offensive line has been playing much better as of late for their run game, and Cincinnati could have the rare excellent second receiver who can exploit the Bills’ second cornerback position in ways they’ve been able to avoid recently. Burrow has also played the Bills’ defense well in those matchups.I think the Bills’ offense will also be able to exploit a Bengals defense that has largely struggled this season, and is without the defensive coordinator who gave Josh Allen problems in previous matchups. However, with how inconsistent the Bills have been on that side, it is fair to wonder if they can truly exploit the Bengals through the air the way that other teams have this season. Ultimately, I think Burrow’s unique ability to challenge the Bills’ usual defensive structure and receiver skill gives them the slight advantage. Still, it should be a close, fun contest between two of the best quarterbacks in the league.
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