The Buffalo Bills stormed through the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, but there's no time to rest on their laurels. The Houston Texans are on tap for Thursday Night Football, and there are a lot of injuries to be addressed.
Last week, 17 players graced our injury report. This week, another 16 are on the shortlist. In a week where the team did not hold a true practice, only walkthroughs, the full scale of the injuries is hard to ascertain.
There's no shortage of storylines for this game. How does Keon Coleman look after his benching? Can Josh Allen and the Bills offense keep rolling? Does Buffalo have a plan to stop the run? One of the most notable facets of the 2025 Buffalo Bills season is their remarkable knack for getting hurt. If the final injury report for Week 12 is any indication, things might be looking up.
Bills' Week 12 injury report vs. Texans per the Bills' PR X account
CB Christian Benford - Groin
Christian Benford was a lockdown corner against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his first back game after suffering a groin injury and missing Week 10. He played all 70 defensive snaps, and had no visible limitations.
Benford started the week as limited, a team-wide trend for a walkthrough practice on both Monday and Tuesday. By Wednesday, he fully participated. For Thursday Night Football, there's no status for Benford, and he will be active.
LB Terrel Bernard - Ankle
Terrel Bernard looked like himself on the field against Tampa Bay, and should have no limitations on Thursday Night Football. Still, he was limited on practice on Monday and Tuesday as the Bills conducted their walkthroughs. He has no limitations and will be active.
DE Joey Bosa - Wrist
Joey Bosa is coming off one of his least-impactful games of the season as he rehabs his wrist injury. He played with a club on his arm against the Miami Dolphins in Week 10, but was unrestricted against the Buccaneers. He's been active throughout his entire injury period, and seems to be recovering well. He once again will miss no time, and is active.
WR Mecole Hardman Jr. - Calf
Mecole Hardman joined the Bills early last week and made an immediate impact on special teams. It was short lived, as he quickly followed up his impressive kick returns with a muffed kick, surrendering a touchdown drive that cost Buffalo the lead in the third quarter.
Still, he did create a spark on special teams. Unfortunately, Hardman didn't re-enter the game following his calf injury, and didn't participate in practice this week. He will be out for this game.
CB Taron Johnson - Groin
Taron Johnson was stellar for Buffalo against Tampa Bay, his return to action after two missed weeks. The groin injury that kept him sidelined is still an issue, but one he's playing through. He was limited in Buffalo's first two walkthrough practices this week, but full on Wednesday and active for Houston.
DT DaQuan Jones - Calf
DaQuan Jones came off the injury report for Week 11, and had some splash plays on defense. Now, he's back on the report for some vet rest days, but nothing more. Jones will be active on Thursday against the Houston Texans.
TE Dalton Kincaid - Hamstring
The second week of Dalton Kincaid's hamstring injury is less of an enigma than the first. We know now his expected absence is 2-6 weeks, but the lack of placement on the injured reserve implies they expect him sooner rather than later. He's an invaluable part of this offense, and they need him ready for the late-season.
Still, for now Kincaid is not participating and won't be playing. At least it isn't a surprise.
DT Phidarian Mathis - Shoulder
Phidarian Mathis missed Week 11 with his shoulder injury sufffered late against the Miami Dolphins. It isn't anything major, and he was elevated to a limited participant at Tuesday's and Wednesday's practices.
Mathis is a capable DT who offers solid depth, but using him against the Houston Texans isn't a must. If he needs a long week of rest to be ready for the Steelers on November 30th, so be it. Officially, he is questionable.
C Connor McGovern - Ankle
Connor McGovern played the full game on Sunday, missing 0 snaps, but did get rolled up on during a down block. He got up and finished the game without incident, and the treatment is likely precautionary.
He was limited in practice to start the week but good to go by Wednesday. He has no limitations and will start on Sunday.
WR Joshua Palmer - Knee/Ankle
Joshua Palmer finally returned from his ankle and knee injury after four weeks away, and though his 2 catches for 17 yards might not sound like much, he had an impact with his blocking. He is still recovering as he plays, and was limited to start the week, but will be active and ready on Thursday.
DT Jordan Phillips - Wrist
Bills DT Jordan Phillips is still dealing with a wrist injury that's bugged him since joining the active roster. He was limited to start the week, like so many others directly post-game, but is fully ready to go following Wednesday's practice.
S Jordan Poyer - Vet Rest
Jordan Poyer isn't the spry young player he used to be (sorry Jordan). In the nine seasons since he first joined the team, already as a veteran, he's taken and delivered a beating. We do not begrudge him his vet rest days, especially on a short week.
WR Khalil Shakir - Personal
Last week, we were unsure if Khalil Shakir would play, due to his ankle and rib injuries. This week, he has never felt more alive. Shakir's wife, Sayler, gave birth to the couple's first child on Monday.
Shakir will be active and playing on Thursday, with good reason.
WR Curtis Samuel - Elbow/Neck
Curtis Samuel made a remarkable double-clutch catch on 3rd-and-11 to keep a touchdown drive alive on Sunday. It might be that horizontal haul-in that caused his elbow and neck injury, as he wasn't used again following the grab. For now, Samuel didn't participate in practice. He's officially out for gameday.
LB Shaq Thompson - Hamstring
Shaq Thompson has missed three weeks with a hamstring injury. He ended Week 11 practicing fully but wasn't active on gameday. On a short week, a fresh Shaq would be an asset; He has no designation and will play against the Houston Texans.
Dorian Williams - Groin
Dorian Williams played well against the Buccaneers coming off his groin injury. As he continues to receive treatment, he is limited in the walkthroughs to start the week. For Houston, Williams will be active after a full Wednesday practice..
T.J. Sanders - Knee
T.J. was elevated to the active roster off the injured reserve against Tampa Bay, and put in work. He's off the injury report completely for Week 12, and ready to go.
Injury Summary
The Bills signed Brandon Codrington back to the practice squad this week, following the injuries to Mecole Hardman and Curtis Samuel. His placement there makes perfect sense, as they need security on kick returns only a week after they fixed that self-same problem. Expect him to be called up in their absence.
Dalton Kincaid remains absent, but should start to ramp up after the long rest this weekend. His return is important for the offense, but they shouldn't need him for Thursday Night Football.