The rookie tight end for the Buffalo Bills took a while to get fully involved in the 2023 campaign, but over the last two weeks, he has performed admirably.
In the victory over Tampa Bay on Thursday night, he scored his first touchdown of the season after taking a Josh Allen scramble-drill play 22 yards for a touchdown. In addition to producing five catches for 65 yards and the touchdown, Kincaid also made an incredible sideline grab to advance the score on a third-quarter third down.
In the last two races, the rookie has sprinted to the front. With eight catches for 75 yards in the Week 7 loss to New England, Kincaid set a career high. He had 17 catches for 118 yards in the first five weeks of the season. Following a concussion that kept him out of action in Week 6, the rookie has made 13 receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown in only two games.
“He feels like he has been in this league really a long time,” Allen stated. “He is an expert. He views it as a business and takes it extremely seriously. His method alone has been excellent. My confidence in him will only increase, and we will keep discussing things that I observe, such as body language or potential directions.
“I thought he stepped up to the challenge & we’re going to need to get him more active in the offense as the season goes by.”
Increasing Kincaid’s touches will help the Bills’ offense balance, particularly with Dawson Knox on injured reserve.
Not just the rookie had a fantastic night. With six catches for 92 yards, second-year wide receiver Khalil Shakir set a career-high; Gabe Davis, the number-two wideout, produced nine grabs for 87 yards and a touchdown. Allen mentioned that increasing Davis’s involvement in the short game rather than long balls contributed to the offense’s diversification.
“It’s hard to always send it downfield to a certain guy while I think that’s hard for him as well,” said Allen. In order to open up some of the other stuff, I believe it will be necessary to develop some of this beneath stuff and give him the opportunity to hold the ball and make some plays. Ken Dorsey, the offensive coordinator, did a fantastic job of providing us with familiar material, in my opinion.”
Even while Stefon Diggs still hit his targets—he caught nine of twelve for 70 yards—the game wasn’t as a one-man show as it has occasionally been this year. The Bills’ offense is significantly more dangerous to stop when Allen distributes the ball as he did on Thursday than when he is forcing Diggs to eat.
For Buffalo to succeed going forward, Kincaid, Shakir, and Davis must continue to be reliable, and Allen must continue to have faith in their ability to produce big plays.