2023 Week 14 Injury Report: Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Buffalo Bills are 6-6 after a meltdown in Philly. Off the field distractions were the story of the week, but the team is much healthier as they return from the bye week.

This comes as a relief with copious amounts of star power on Injured Reserve (IR), including CB Tre’Davious White, LB Matt Milano, DT DaQuan Jones, and RB Damien Harris. The list is shortening though, as TE Dawson Knox and CB Kaiir Elam opened their 21-day practice windows this week. It is believed Knox will be activated, but Elam will not.

As for the Kansas City Chiefs, they will miss a handful of starters. LT Donovan Smith, S Bryan Cook, RB Isiah Pacheco, and LB Drue Tranquill are OUT for Sunday. They will be getting standout LB Nick Bolton back from the IR though.

Questionable

TE Dawson Knox

Knox went on the IR following ‘wrist’ surgery after the Week 7 matchup against the Patriots. He was dealing with his wrist ailment for at least two weeks prior, but nevertheless opted for surgery. He was a full participant all week after the team opened his 21-day practice window. It is expected he will be activated for the game. This means he would be playing without a cast just under seven weeks post-surgery. This timeline is consistent with a fixation for a scaphoid fracture as they carry a 4-6 week recovery (1). A scaphoid fracture is commonly missed in radiology early on, which might be the reason for the delayed surgery.

CB Kaiir Elam

Elam went on IR before the Week 9 matchup against the Bengals with an ‘ankle’ injury. It is unknown what the injury is, but reports were that he has been dealing with it since training camp. The team also opened his 21-day practice window, and he was a full participant all week. However, reports are that he is unlikely to be activated this week. This could be a case of tendonitis and his stint on the IR gave him essentially a month of rest.

Also Listed

CB Dane Jackson

Jackson left the second Jets game early with a concussion. He missed the following game against the Eagles but was a full participant this week in practice and will be ready to play.

S Taylor Rapp

Rapp had a scary collision with CB Taron Johnson in the Week 11 Jets game, resulting in a ‘neck’ injury. While the team was optimistic he could return the following week after clean imaging, he did not dress against the Eagles. Fortunately, he was a full participant this week in practice and will play. His injury looked a lot like a stinger.

DE Leonard Floyd

Floyd appeared on the injury report this week with a ‘wrist’ injury. He practiced fully this week and will play. It is surprising he is listed coming out of the bye week, especially after playing a season-high snap count in the Eagles game (70%). He is likely dealing with a minor sprain.

TE Dalton Kincaid

Kincaid was listed with a ‘thumb’ injury this week. He too was a full participant in practice and will play. Looking back as his snap count against the Eagles, it must have been bothering him as he played just 61% of the offensive snaps, his lowest snap count since Week 7. This is likely a minor sprain that has potential to flare up for a pass catcher.

QB Josh Allen

Based on the mechanism, Allen has been dealing with a mild AC joint injury to his throwing shoulder. Now, eight weeks removed, he should be near fully healed.

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