Bills Facing Uncertainty with Dalton Kincaid's Knee Injury

Tight end's decision to forgo surgery raises concerns about his availability for 2026 season

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:42pm

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The Buffalo Bills are already bracing for potential issues with star tight end Dalton Kincaid's health heading into the 2026 NFL season. Kincaid battled a knee injury throughout the 2025 campaign and has declined to have surgery on a torn PCL, leading to further complications. The team's offensive coordinator Joe Brady has expressed concerns about Kincaid's ability to practice and play through the lingering pain, casting doubt on his status for the upcoming year.

Why it matters

Kincaid was the Bills' first-round draft pick in 2025 and was expected to be a key part of their passing attack. His potential absence or limited availability would be a significant blow to the team's offensive plans and could hinder their Super Bowl aspirations.

The details

According to a report from The Athletic's Tim Graham, Kincaid is still rehabbing the torn PCL in his left knee that he suffered in November 2024. Despite the injury, Kincaid has declined to have surgery, which has led to other complications. The Bills' offensive coordinator Joe Brady has already expressed concerns about Kincaid's ability to practice and play through the pain on a week-to-week basis.

  • Kincaid suffered the torn PCL in his left knee in November 2024.
  • The 2026 NFL season opener is still five months away.

The players

Dalton Kincaid

A tight end for the Buffalo Bills who was the team's first-round draft pick in 2025. Kincaid has been dealing with a knee injury that he has declined to have surgically repaired.

Joe Brady

The offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, who has expressed concerns about Kincaid's ability to practice and play through his lingering knee injury.

Tim Graham

A reporter for The Athletic who wrote the article detailing the Bills' concerns about Kincaid's health.

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What they’re saying

“The season opener is still five months away, but (Joe) Brady already is wondering how Buffalo will maintain Kincaid's week-to-week and play-to-play wherewithal. Brady mentioned missing regular-season practices and stated Kincaid simply might have to play through the pain.”

— Tim Graham, Reporter

What’s next

The Bills will continue to monitor Kincaid's progress and recovery throughout the offseason and into training camp. The team may need to explore contingency plans if Kincaid is unable to fully recover or is limited in his availability for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Kincaid's decision to forgo surgery on his knee injury has created a concerning situation for the Bills, who were counting on the talented tight end to be a key part of their offense. The team's ability to manage Kincaid's health and find ways to keep him on the field will be crucial to their Super Bowl aspirations in 2026.