Bills vs. Jaguars injury update: Buffalo monitoring key injuries for playoffs

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The Buffalo Bills know their playoff opponent. Now they need to know who’s healthy enough to face them.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott's first order of business won’t involve film or game planning. McDermott said his priority is checking on the team's injuries after multiple players left the regular-season finale win over the New York Jets.

"It's an important week for us, obviously," McDermott said. "Got to check the injury report because we've got some injuries popped up again. I think that's the first step, to know who's available for us. That'll be the first thing (Monday) morning item on the to-do list."

Buffalo rested several key players to preserve them for the playoffs, but kicker Matt Prater re-aggravated his right quadriceps injury and did not play in the second half, and cornerback Maxwell Hairston left with a right ankle injury in the fourth quarter.

The No. 6 seed Bills (12–5) travel to face the No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) at 1 p.m. Sunday.

NFL teams have to submit a report on practice participation on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for a Sunday game. There are three levels of practice participation that can be designated: did not participate, limited participation and full participation.

A game status report is due by 4 p.m. Friday for Sunday games.

Here is the Bills vs. Jaguars injury report for the wild-card round of the playoffs.

Buffalo Bills injury update for playoffs

Matt Prater, K, right quadriceps

Matt Prater's quadriceps injury flared up in Week 18. Prater returned after missing the previous two games and made three extra points in the first half against the Jets. He didn't play in the second half.

Buffalo went for 2-point conversions on its two second-half touchdowns with Prater hurt, and punter Mitch Wishnowsky handled kickoff duties in the second half.

"It happened in the second quarter so we started putting a plan in place and then we got in at halftime and were told he can't go at all," McDermott said in his postgame press conference. "We'll have to see what it looks like tomorrow. I'm sure they'll get some films of it and we'll know a little bit more, but, yeah, unfortunate."

Prater, 41, has made 18 of 20 field-goal attempts and 46 of 49 extra points for 100 points in 15 games this season.

Maxwell Hairston, CB, ankle

Maxwell Hairston left with an ankle injury in the fourth quarter of the win against the New York Jets.

The rookie first-round pick was injured while making a tackle on wide receiver Quentin Skinner. Hairston seemed to plant awkwardly, lunged at Skinner and landed on his right knee, then was inadvertently collided with by rookie linebacker Keonta Jenkins.

Hairston walked gingerly to the blue medical tent before heading to the locker room. He did not return.

"A little bit of an ankle. Would've really preferred not to have one of he or Tre (White) out there," Bills head coach Sean McDermott said. "But we were in a situation where we were out of ups and didn't have another corner to go to on the active at that point. We were out of practice squad ups, we had two already being used, and so it's unfortunate there."

Hairston was spotted wearing a walking boot on his right foot after the game.

Hairston spent the six games of the season on injured reserve with a right knee injury he suffered during training camp.

Cam Lewis, CB, undisclosed

Cam Lewis came up limping after a play in the third quarter against the Jets in Week 18. He went into the blue medical tent and began jogging on the sideline. Lewis was on the injury report with a hamstring injury leading up to the game.

Josh Allen, QB, foot

Josh Allen got nearly a full game to rest his injured right foot. He played one snap to extend his consecutive starts streak to 122 regular season games, 135 including playoffs, against the Jets then cheered from the sideline as backup Mitchell Trubisky threw for four touchdown passes.

Allen underwent X-rays postgame on the foot in Week 17 and Week 18.

He originally suffered the injury while retreating and falling to the ground on a 22-yard sack against the Browns in Week 17. Allen limped off the field and was evaluated by athletic trainers as he sat on the bench late in the second quarter. He walked to the locker room with trainers just prior to halftime with his right cleat off and received X-rays, which were negative. Allen returned for the second half and did not miss any plays.

Allen played the entirety versus the Eagles, rushing for two touchdowns in the final 5:11 of the game, but he was sacked five times. He appeared to be favoring the foot and attempted all of his passes from the pocket for the first time in his career.

Dalton Kincaid, TE, knee

Dalton Kincaid returned in Week 18 after missing one game due to a nagging knee injury. Kincaid had three catches for 48 yards in the blowout win over the Jets.

"He hadn't played in a little bit and had been kind of, you know, practicing, not practicing," McDermott said. "I thought it was important that we got him going a little bit but not too much to where he was too sore to come back and practice this past week. So just some momentum, some wind at his back, and he did a good job."

Kincaid missed five games in the regular season.

Jordan Poyer, S, hamstring

Jordan Poyer missed the final two games of the regular season with a hamstring injury that occurred while recording a half-sack on Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders late in the fourth quarter in Week 16.

Terrel Bernard, LB, elbow

Terrel Bernard did not play in the final regular season game against the Jets.

Bernard exited with a calf injury against the Eagles in Week 17. He was initially ruled questionable to return but was downgraded to out.

Bernard went into the blue medical tent then exited the tent and talked with athletic trainers.

Bernard also missed three games this season with a dislocated elbow.

DaQuan Jones, DT, calf

DaQuan Jones did not play in Week 17 or Week 18 due to a calf injury. The 12-year veteran has 22 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble in 12 games in 2025.

Joey Bosa, DE, hamstring

Joey Bosa was inactive in Week 18, resting a hamstring injury. He recorded 29 tackles, five sacks and five forced fumbles in 15 games in 2025.

Buffalo Bills injured reserve

Landon Jackson, DE, knee

Landon Jackson was injured on his second defensive snap against the Dolphins in Week 10.

The rookie third-round pick came off the left edge on a run by Ollie Gordon and fought off a block before falling backward. He immediately brought his right knee to his chest and grabbed it in pain and trainers evaluated him on the field.

Jackson was ruled out for the game shortly after. He returned to the Bills sideline in the second half with a brace on his right knee and using crutches.

His injury left the Bills with as many injured defensive ends (Jackson, A.J. Epenesa, Michael Hoecht) as healthy defensive ends (Joey Bosa, Greg Rousseau, Javon Solomon).

Jackson has played in three games with 30 defensive snaps and 13 special teams snaps and is yet to record his first career tackle.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Dec. 5 that Jackson is out for the rest of the season.

Ed Oliver, DT, biceps

Ed Oliver suffered a torn biceps injury that required and is out indefinitely. He was placed on on injured reserve on Oct. 28 and was eligible to return in Week 13.

Oliver was hurt in the second quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Oliver, who had a sack on the first possession of the game, went into the medical tent and FOX cameras showed him speaking with trainers and pointing to his left arm. He returned to the sideline with his arm in a sling under his hooded sweatshirt.

He missed four games earlier this season (Weeks 2-5) with an ankle injury after he got stepped on in practice on Sept. 10.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Dec. 5 that Oliver could potentially return for the playoffs.

McDermott gave an update on Dec. 28 that Oliver suffered a minor setback in his recovery but is "moving in a good direction."

Taylor Rapp, S, knee

Taylor Rapp was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 24.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Rapp was battling an injury since training camp and "it got to the point where he can't be himself."

Rapp had 26 tackles in six games this season.

Michael Hoecht, DE, Achilles

Michael Hoecht tore his right Achilles in the fourth quarter of the win against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

He suffered the non-contact injury while taking one step into his rush off the left edge with 14:25 remaining. Hoecht was unable to put pressure on his right leg. He waved off the cart that drove into the field to take him to the locker room. Instead, Hoecht hobbled off with the help of trainers and stayed on the bench with his teammates for the rest of the game.

Hoecht, a free agent signing in the offseason, was suspended for the first six games of the season.

He has five tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in two games.

"It's a big loss," Bills head coach Sean McDermott said in his postgame press conference. “I feel terrible for him.”

Tyler Bass, K, left hip/groin

Tyler Bass was placed on injured reserve on Friday, Sept. 5 after he was unable to practice the day prior. Bass missed most of training camp with pelvic soreness, sitting out from July 28 to Aug. 19 before returning for the preseason finale. He went 3-for-4 in that game, connecting from 37, 37 and 39 yards before pushing a 26-yarder wide right.

Bass was eligible to return in Week 5 against the New England Patriots but has not had his 21-day practice window opened.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Bass underwent season-ending surgery in November.

Cameron Johnston, P, foot/ankle

Cameron Johnston suffered left foot and ankle injuries after taking a hit to his left plant leg on a punt in the fourth quarter in the Week 4 win over the Saints. The Bills placed him on injured reserve on Sept. 30 and signed punter Mitch Wishnowsky.

New Orleans linebacker Nephi Sewell crashed into Johnston’s left leg and was flagged for a roughing the kicker penalty. Johnston, 33, immediately slammed his helmet to the turf in frustration before hobbling off with trainers.

The athletic staff put a brace on Johnston's left leg and he stretched out his leg on the sideline. Backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky put his helmet on in case he needed to take over holding duties on a field goal but Johnston came back into the game to hold for Matt Prater's 35-yard field goal that gave the Bills a 31-19 lead. He walked to the X-ray room after the game.

Johnston was carted off the field with a season-ending right knee injury in Week 1 last season after taking a low shot while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Dorian Strong, CB, neck

Dorian Strong played in four games with one start before suffering a neck injury and being placed on injured reserve on Oct. 4. The rookie sixth-round pick was eligible to return in Week 10.

Damar Hamlin, S, pectoral

Damar Hamlin suffered pectoral injury in practice Oct. 9 and was placed on injured reserve.

He was eligible to return in Week 11, although Bills coach Sean McDermott said it's "up in the air" if Hamlin's injury is season-ending.

Hamlin started 14 games in 2024 but has played a reserve role this year with Cole Bishop and Taylor Rapp as the starting safeties. He has one tackle in five games.

DeWayne Carter, DT, Achilles

DeWayne Carter suffered a torn Achilles and will miss the entire 2025 season.

Carter, a 2024 third-round pick, recorded 14 tackles, five tackles for loss, three quarterback hits and a pass defended in 11 games last year.

Chase Lundt, OT, knee

Chase Lundt, a rookie sixth-round pick, was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 19. Lundt has appeared in two games, with three offensive snaps and five special teams snaps, in 2025.

Wande Owens, S, undisclosed

The undrafted rookie was waived Aug. 23 with an injury designation and went unclaimed on waivers.

Jacksonville Jaguars injury update for playoffs

Cole Van Lanen, OT, knee

Cole van Lanen #70 of the Jacksonville Jaguars is attended to by medical staff during the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at EverBank Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Cole Van Lanen suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter in a victory against the Tennessee Titans in Week 18.

The Jaguars and Van Lanen agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $51 million with $32.5 million guaranteed on Friday.

Brian Thomas, WR, concussion evaluation

Brian Thomas was evaluated for a concussion after being injured with 11:47 remaining in the second quarter in the win over the Titans on Sunday. Thomas was evaluated for a concussion but cleared to return and came back in the second half.

Greg Newsome II, CB, shoulder

Greg Newsome left with a shoulder injury but returned in the second quarter against the Titans in Week 18.

Patrick Mekari, G, back

Patrick Mekari missed the final two games of the regular season with a back injury.

Jacksonville Jaguars injured reserve

Joshua Cephus, WR, undisclosed
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, knee
Jack Kiser, LB, hamstring
Jourdan Lewis, CB, foot
Caleb Ransaw, CB, foot
Jalen McLeod, LB, ankle

Jacksonville Jaguars physically unable to perform

Cooper Hodges, OL, knee

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills vs. Jaguars injury update: Buffalo has key injuries for playoffs

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