BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid will miss Sunday’s showdown with the unbeaten Chiefs due to a knee injury.
Coach Sean McDermott ruled the second-year tight end out on Friday, adding that wide receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) and right tackle Spencer Brown (ankle) will be questionable.
Kincaid is second on the team with 34 receptions and recorded 10 catches in two games against the Chiefs last season. He sustained the injury in the first half last week against the Colts and tried to return later in the game, but couldn’t finish the contest.
“Thought I could go and, just didn’t feel good enough to run and be able to go out there and protect myself,” Kincaid told reporters after last week’s game.
Rookie receiver Keon Coleman (wrist) was already ruled out for the Chiefs game earlier in the week. Now with Kincaid out as well, it could open up opportunity for veteran tight end Dawson Knox.
“It’s just great to have him, it really is,” McDermott said of Knox. “Such an important piece for us, a leader for us as well. Just fun to really watch him grow. I think he made the comment to me last week, just about a lot of young guys coming up to him saying that was a great game, great catch. And he was like, they weren’t here – I’ve been doing this for a while. Just love that veteran piece he brings to our team.”
Cooper was seen wearing a small cast on his left wrist during practice this week. He said he doesn’t have pain catching passes and thought he could play through the injury, but added playing with the cast would be an adjustment.
“He’s working through it. We’ll see how today goes,” McDermott said of Cooper, who has missed two games with the injury. “Just take it one day at a time and see where it goes. That cast is something you have to get used to.”
Ryan Van Demark replaced Brown at right tackle late in last week’s game against the Colts and is on track to start if Brown can’t go.
“Very consistent player,” McDermott said of Van Demark. “He went in last week as your saw and did a great job for us. We have full confidence in Vanny.”
The Bills (8-2) host the Chiefs (9-0) at 4:25 p.m. Sunday. The game will air locally on WIVB and nationally on your local CBS affiliate.