The Buffalo Bills were able to take their offensive output to another level in 2024 thanks to Josh Allen continually progressing as a player, but they did so without Stefon Diggs for the first time in a long time. With Diggs in Houston last season, the Bills spread the ball around to their wide variety of playmakers, but one young player managed to become Josh Allen's favorite new target.
Khalil Shakir was not only the Bills's leader in targets (100) last season, but with 76 receptions, he had more than 30 more catches than the next guy (Dalton Kincaid). Shakir was outstanding for the Bills last season, and Buffalo's primary additions at receiver this offseason were dart throws in free agency (though they invested quite a bit in Josh Palmer).
Any injury to Shakir would throw a major wrench in Buffalo's offensive plans this season, which is why the latest injury update out of Buffalo regarding their rising stud is a clear avoidance of disaster.
Khalil Shakir dealing with high ankle sprain, likely ready for Bills' opener
Bills HC Sean McDermott said he’s being told as of now that WR Khalil Shakir should be on pace to return for the start of the season.
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) August 7, 2025
Shakir is dealing with a high ankle sprain.
There is still a nugget about that report that will leave a sliver of doubt in the minds of Bills fans everywhere. Those dreaded words "should be" and "on pace" are anything but certain. An 18-week season is a long one, and the Bills shouldn't be too worried about running the AFC East in 2025, but any mismanagement of a player like Shakir could be absolutely detrimental for them.
There's already so much pressure on the shoulders of Josh Allen, not only to carry this team, but to perform at or above the level he played last year. Allen is the NFL's MVP, and any injury to key skill players is going to amplify just how valuable he is to the team.
And make no mistake about it -- Allen can and will put the Bills all the way on his back if he has to. The Bills just have to be extremely careful with how they bring Shakir back into the fold. Ankle injuries to receivers are so tricky because of how often they are cutting, changing direction, and trying to avoid defenders in the open field. A player like Shakir, whose game is predicated on creating yardage after the catch, really can't mess around with an ankle injury.
Those are the types of injuries that can end up lingering throughout the entire season. For now, the Bills have avoided a major injury disaster, but they have to make sure they put this one to bed, even if it costs Shakir a week or two at the start of the regular season.