Orchard Park, N.Y. — When tight end Dawson Knox played against the New England Patriots back in Week 7, the Buffalo Bills offense looked completely different.
The Bills were in the middle of a six-game stretch that ended in former offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey’s firing.
When Knox suffered a wrist injury that required surgery and a five-week stint on injured reserve, rookie Dalton Kincaid was still finding his way. Since Knox went on the shelf, Kincaid has blossomed into one of the league’s top tight ends. In five games since Knox’s injury, Kincaid has 31 catches for 281 yards and two touchdowns.
Knox could return to the Bills’ lineup as early as Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. The team opened his 21-day practice window on Wednesday. He said after practice that it’s a day-to-day situation but he felt like he could have played before the team’s bye.
“In my mind, I was ready to play (against the Philadelphia Eagles),” Knox said. “(But the wrist) didn’t show enough healing for me to play. But missing one game, but also gaining the bye week, it’s kind of like a buy one get one free. The two extra weeks of healing I think did a huge number on the wrist and made sure it’s all the way back.”
Kincaid’s usage and production have sky-rocketed with Knox out of action. He’s played more than 60% of the snaps in all five games without Knox after going over that amount just three times in his first six games. The Bills have leaned more into 11 personnel (three wide receivers, one tight end, and one running back) with Knox out of the lineup. That meant more looks for Kincaid as the only tight end on the field after Buffalo tried to lean into 12 personnel (two tight ends and one running back) earlier in the season.
New offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who’s set to call plays for the third time since he took over for Dorsey, has the challenge of integrating Knox back into the offense without slowing the momentum of the Bills’ 2023…
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