The Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans are dealing with significant injuries as they prepare for Thursday Night Football in Week 12. Buffalo will be without tight end Dalton Kincaid for a second straight week due to a hamstring injury, while Houston has ruled out quarterback C.J. Stroud and safety Jalen Pitre with concussions.
Injuries continue to shape the NFL landscape entering Week 12, with the Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans game on Thursday highlighting several key absences. The matchup, set for 8:15 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium and streaming on Prime Video, features the Bills as 6-point favorites according to Caesars Sportsbook odds.
For the Bills, tight end Dalton Kincaid remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, marking his second consecutive week out. Wide receivers Mecole Hardman Jr. (calf) and Curtis Samuel (elbow/neck) are also out, thinning the receiving corps and leaving options like Khalil Shakir, Josh Palmer, Keon Coleman, Tyrell Shavers, and Elijah Moore as primary targets. Defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis is questionable with a shoulder injury. Despite these setbacks, quarterback Josh Allen comes off a six-touchdown performance, fueling optimism for Buffalo's road effort.
The Texans face a tougher blow with quarterback C.J. Stroud out due to a concussion, alongside safety Jalen Pitre (concussion) and linebacker Jamal Hill. Edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) is a full participant after starting the week limited, providing a boost to Houston's defense. The Texans have allowed an NFL-best 163 points this season but showed resilience in close home losses.
Expert predictions lean toward the Bills. USA TODAY's Tyler Dragon forecasts a 27-20 Buffalo win, citing their completeness despite Houston's defensive line pressure. Jeremy Cluff and Bill Bender echo this, predicting scores of 27-20 and 28-17, respectively, emphasizing Allen's form and Stroud's absence. Houston is 2-2 straight-up at home, with losses by a combined four points to Denver and Tampa Bay.
These injuries underscore broader Week 12 challenges, but for this primetime clash, both teams aim to adapt and compete in a season marked by 43 close games through Week 11.