Josh Allen, Bills feel 'high sense of urgency' vs. Steelers

Thu Nov 27 10:33am ET
Field Level Media

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen understands the reality at hand.

Buffalo (7-4) faces a tough test against the host Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) on Sunday afternoon. The game carries significant implications for both teams as they try to boost their playoff hopes.

Some players might deflect the importance of the matchup. Allen isn't one of them.

"Extremely high sense of urgency," Allen said with the Bills three back of the Patriots in the AFC East. "We understand where we're at. We have full confidence in ourselves, but ultimately it comes down to executing on game days."

Buffalo is coming off a 23-19 loss against the Houston Texans in a primetime Thursday night contest. It was the fourth loss in the past seven games for the Bills, who still have aspirations of competing for a championship but first must secure a postseason berth.

Allen has tried to do his part. The reigning NFL MVP has completed 69.7% of his passes for 2,709 yards, 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 11 starts, and he has posted a passer rating of 101.6.

Dealing with a right elbow injury that landed him on the injury report to begin the week, Allen was sacked eight times by the Texans. The 29-year-old signal-caller said he and the Bills have plenty of reasons to stay positive.

"We've had some good, had some bad, throughout the year," Allen said. "I think there'd be a lot of teams that are wishing that they were 7-4 in a spot that we are. So it's also about that opportunity in front of us of hey, let's go out, let's play as hard as we can, let's put our best foot forward and try to get a victory on Sunday. That's ultimately what it comes down to."

The Steelers will try to spoil Allen's hopes.

Pittsburgh has alternated wins and losses throughout the past four weeks. The Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 34-12 on Nov. 16 but are coming off a 31-28 loss on the road against the Chicago Bears last week.

Aaron Rodgers will start at quarterback against the Bills, the team confirmed Friday. Rodgers sat out last week because of a wrist injury, and Mason Rudolph completed 24 of 31 passes for 171 yards with one touchdown and one interception in his absence.

"He was a full participant today with no designation for the game," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said about Rodgers on Friday. "So, it's all systems go."

Rodgers has led the Steelers to victories in six of his 10 starts this season.

Jaylen Warren leads the Steelers with 604 rushing yards, and DK Metcalf is tops in the passing game with 573 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 42 catches.

James Cook has rushed for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns for the Bills, and Khalil Shakir has caught 54 passes for 564 yards and three scores.

Wideout Brandin Cooks joined the Bills this week as a free-agent signing.

"Bringing a guy like him in, being a veteran presence for our room, he's come in here and he's already basically learned our playbook," Allen said. "The way that he carries himself, the way that he is in meetings, already it's very apparent that he is a true professional. ...

"We appreciate him coming here and, hopefully, helping us out."

Buffalo will be without several key starters Sunday. Left tackle Dion Dawkins (concussion), right tackle Spencer Brown (shoulder), linebacker Terrel Bernard (elbow) and receiver Curtis Samuel (elbow/knee) have been ruled out. Receiver Josh Palmer (ankle) and tight end Dalton Kinkaid (hamstring) are listed as questionable. Offensive lineman Tylan Grable, out with a concussion since August, was activated from injured reserve on Saturday.

For Pittsburgh, offensive tackle Broderick Jones (neck) and defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee) have been ruled out. The Steelers placed Jones, who was hurt against the Bears, on injured reserve on Saturday, with Andrus Peat expected to start in his place at left tackle. The team also elevated cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., who was signed on Nov. 12, from the practice squad for Sunday's game.

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Tyler Bass Dec 1 3:50pm CT
Tyler Bass

Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass (groin, hip) underwent surgery on his groin/hip and will not kick again this season, according to head coach Sean McDermott. Bass will end up missing the entire 2025 season and will close out the year on Injured Reserve. Veteran Matt Prater has been filling in for Bass all year in Buffalo and has made 17 of his 19 field-goal attempts (89.5%) and 34 of his 37 extra-point tries in 12 games played. In fantasy football, Prater has been the No. 14 kicker in terms of overall points, and he'll definitely be in play for the upcoming Week 14 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals and their generous defense. Bass signed a four-year contract extension with Buffalo in 2023, so he should be back with the team next year if he's recovered from his injuries.

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Sauce Gardner Dec 1 3:50pm CT
Sauce Gardner

The Indianapolis Colts are not considering putting All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf) on Injured Reserve at the moment, according to Stephen Holder of ESPN. Head coach Shane Steichen said that Gardner did not damage his Achilles in Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans, but his calf injury is expected to sideline him for an undetermined length of time. If the 25-year-old defensive back went on IR, he'd be required to miss at least four games. Overall, it's good news for Gardner, but the Colts are prepared for him to miss some time, potentially several weeks. In his three games in Indy since being acquired in a trade from the New York Jets, Gardner has 13 tackles (11 solo) and two pass breakups. The Colts' secondary will be more vulnerable this weekend for a huge divisional contest against the first-place Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Kyren Williams Dec 1 3:40pm CT
Kyren Williams

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that running back Kyren Williams' ankle was "pretty good" on Monday after he had an injury scare in Sunday's upset loss to the Carolina Panthers, according to Nate Atkins of The Athletic. Williams hurt his ankle in the second quarter on Sunday but returned following halftime and finished with 13 rushing attempts for 72 yards and a touchdown while playing 67% of the snaps. Backup Blake Corum finished with seven carries for 81 yards and a touchdown while playing 33% of the snaps. Williams said the scar tissue from previous injuries made it easier for him to deal with on Sunday. It sounds like the 25-year-old should be just fine for Week 14 against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals, although Corum could take on a larger workload as the Rams look to keep Williams healthy and fresh for a postseason run.

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Jayden Daniels Dec 1 3:30pm CT
Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said on Monday that quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) has not been cleared for contact, and he does not expect to make a final decision on the QB's Week 14 status until Friday, according to Tashan Reed of The Washington Post. Quinn added that Daniels is going through "functional movements" this week as the next step for his return to action following a gruesome dislocation of his left (non-throwing) elbow in Week 9. The second-year signal-caller has a chance to return in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings, but his status still seems very much up in the air, and with the Commanders well out of the playoff picture, it doesn't make sense for the organization to rush their franchise QB back. We'll have a better idea of Daniels' Week 14 status later this week, but we wouldn't be surprised if Marcus Mariota makes another start this weekend.

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Jayden Reed Dec 1 3:10pm CT
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said on Monday that even though wide receiver Jayden Reed (foot, shoulder) is back at practice, he has to be given medical clearance to play, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. "The plan is to see where he's at by the end of the week," LaFleur said. Reed has been back at practice for over a week now, but he's still up in the air to be officially activated from Injured Reserve to play in a big Week 14 divisional game against the Chicago Bears. The 25-year-old is recovering from a broken foot that required surgery and a broken collarbone that he suffered back in Week 2. Reed should have a key role eventually in Green Bay's offense, and his nose for the end zone (18 total touchdowns through two-plus seasons) makes him a stash candidate in fantasy football leagues. However, expect Reed to be eased back into the Packers' offense when he's finally activated.

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Jaycee Horn Dec 1 2:50pm CT
Jaycee Horn

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Monday that the team expects to get Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn (concussion) back after their Week 14 bye, according to David Newton of ESPN. Horn suffered a concussion in Week 12 and did not suit up for a surprising Week 13 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. The 26-year-old defensive back will have an extra week to rest during the team's bye, though, and the team is hoping he'll be ready to return in Week 15 against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. Getting Horn back will be a massive boost to the Panthers' defense, as he's played at a Pro Bowl level in 2025 with 25 tackles (15 solo), a career-high five interceptions, and six pass breakups in 12 starts. The Panthers' defense/special teams unit will be a popular streaming option in Week 15 in the first week of the fantasy playoffs in most leagues.

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Trey Hendrickson Dec 1 2:40pm CT
Trey Hendrickson

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said on Monday that defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip) remains week-to-week and is doubtful to play in Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills in Week 14, per ESPN's Ben Baby. Hendrickson aggravated a hip injury in the Week 8 loss to the New York Jets and has missed the last four games. The 30-year-old All-Pro pass-rusher is on track to miss a fifth straight game, and it's fair to wonder if he'll end up having season-ending surgery on his hip instead of waiting until the offseason. The four-time Pro Bowler has been a huge disappointment for fantasy managers in IDP formats this year after he had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in both 2023 and 2024. Hendrickson has played in seven games in 2025 and has 16 tackles (11 solo), four sacks, eight QB hits, and a forced fumble.

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Deshaun Watson Dec 1 2:30pm CT
Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday that he didn't have an update on quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles), and the team has yet to open his 21-day practice window as he continues to rehab while on the Physically Unable to Perform list. The 30-year-old is making progress from a torn right Achilles that he re-ruptured in January, but he's still not ready to practice with the rest of the team and is a long shot to take any snaps under center for the Browns this year. Watson will be in the final season of a five-year, $230 million guaranteed deal in 2026, but the expectation is that he won't play for the Browns again. Cleveland started the year with veteran Joe Flacco under center before trading him to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. Rookie Dillon Gabriel got his chance as the starting QB before suffering a concussion, opening the door for Shedeur Sanders to take the gig the last two weeks. If he plays well enough, Sanders could finish the year as the Browns' QB.

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Tee Higgins Dec 1 2:30pm CT
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said on Monday that wide receiver Tee Higgins (concussion) is still in the league's concussion protocol, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Higgins suffered a concussion late in the Week 12 loss to the New England Patriots and was ruled out on a short week in last Thursday night's Thanksgiving Day win over the Baltimore Ravens. The 26-year-old is still in the concussion protocol, but that doesn't mean he won't be cleared later this week in order to play on Sunday, Dec. 7, versus the Buffalo Bills. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on Higgins' practice status from Wednesday through Friday. If Higgins is forced to miss a second straight game, both Andrei Iosivas and Mitchell Tinsley will take on elevated roles in the passing game again behind target hog Ja'Marr Chase. Higgins has 40 receptions (70 targets) for 575 yards and seven touchdowns this year.

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Justice Hill Dec 1 2:20pm CT
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Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said on Monday that running back Justice Hill (neck) will be out three to four weeks with a disc issue in his neck, but there's still a chance that he will return this year, according to Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun. Hill injured his neck in practice early last week and landed on Injured Reserve before the Thanksgiving Day loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night. The 28-year-old pass-catching back will miss at least three more games, but he will be eligible to return from IR in Week 17 on the road at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. Keaton Mitchell was starting to take on a bigger role behind starter Derrick Henry even before Hill was injured, so if he does return before the end of the 2025 regular season, Hill could be Baltimore's RB3 on passing downs. He only has 18 rushing attempts on the year for 93 yards and two TDs, adding 169 receiving yards and one score.

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Derrick Henry Dec 1 2:10pm CT
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Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry carried the ball only 10 times in a primetime Thanksgiving loss to the Bengals. In a season that has not played out as most had prognosticated for the Ravens, this marked the fourth time that Henry was held to 12 carries or fewer. While it was the first such occurrence since a Week 4 loss to the Chiefs, head coach John Harbaugh stressed on Monday that he wants the Ravens to be a running team. With quarterback Lamar Jackson clearly hampered by a growing list of ailments, much of that identity will presumably fall on Henry's shoulders. Henry himself has also visibly lost a step from his fantasy MVP days, but he has still been a serviceable RB1 for most of the season, and if given a full workload, especially as temperatures drop and the frequency of on-field business decisions increases, he remains one of the safest plays in fantasy.

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Drake London Dec 1 2:10pm CT
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Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said on Monday that wide receiver Drake London (knee) is moving to "day-to-day" this week and "certainly has a chance" to play this weekend against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14, according to Tori McElhaney of AtlantaFalcons.com. London has missed the team's last two games due to a PCL sprain in his knee, but the 24-year-old is making progress and could be active this weekend if he can do enough in practice this week to be cleared. It would be a huge boost for the 4-8 Falcons, but considering they aren't in playoff contention, it doesn't make sense for the team to rush their best receiver back. London will be a must-start in fantasy football when he returns, but his ceiling will be lowered with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins running the offense for the rest of the year. London has a 60-810-6 line on 94 targets in nine games played in 2025.

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J.J. McCarthy Dec 1 1:50pm CT
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Still in the NFL's concussion protocol, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (concussion) is symptom-free, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell. McCarthy will need to log a full practice on Wednesday to clear the league's protocol, but barring unforeseen circumstances, O'Connell has said he will start the team's Week 14 game against the Commanders. McCarthy reported concussion symptoms following a Week 12 loss to the Packers, and in his absence, the Vikings turned to undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, who led them to a disastrous loss to the Seahawks. Brosmer threw for under 130 yards with zero touchdowns and four interceptions. While the subpar play of McCarthy has had a profoundly negative impact on Justin Jefferson and the rest of the Vikings' pass catchers, Sunday represented rock bottom. Jefferson's four receiving yards marked a career low that was undoubtedly felt by fantasy managers fighting for a playoff spot, but with McCarthy expected back under center for Week 14, Jefferson slots back in as a low-end WR2/Flex, far from the must-start status he generally carries into the fantasy playoffs.

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Amon-Ra St. Brown Dec 1 1:40pm CT
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) was not present for the team's Monday practice after exiting early from a Thanksgiving loss to the Packers. He has since been diagnosed with a low-ankle sprain, casting doubt on his availability for a Week 14 matchup with the Cowboys that now carries heavy playoff implications. With only one week remaining in most fantasy regular seasons, the extra rest after Thursday night's game could put him back in play for another must-win Week 15 affair with the Rams. St. Brown's rare combination of consistency and ceiling has once again made him one of the most valuable fantasy assets of 2025, so any missed time in the fantasy playoffs would be a difficult blow to overcome. With St. Brown sidelined for nearly the entire game on Thursday, Jameson Williams recorded a career-high 144 receiving yards, and although much harder to trust than his All-Pro teammate, he remains a must-start for as long as St. Brown is out.

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Shedeur Sanders Dec 1 1:20pm CT
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw for 149 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions in a Week 13 loss to the 49ers, and head coach Kevin Stefanski is pleased with the progress of his rookie signal-caller. In speaking with the media on Monday, Stefanski said that Sanders had some really good moments but also some plays he would want back. Sunday marked Sanders' second career start and his third appearance of the season. While his yards per attempt were down considerably from his Week 12 win over the Raiders, it was the first time he completed more than 60% of his passes, while also avoiding a turnover for the first time in his young career. Sanders has already been named the starter for the Browns' Week 14 matchup with the Titans, and though he is still far from consideration in most fantasy formats, a promising showing against a struggling Tennessee squad could help to cement his role and boost his dynasty value, especially in Superflex leagues.

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Chuba Hubbard Dec 1 1:00pm CT
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Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales was really impressed with how running back Chuba Hubbard looked in Sunday's upset victory over the visiting Los Angeles Rams, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. "I just love the way Chuba went right back to work. He looked amazing," Canales said. Hubbard led the Panthers with 83 rushing yards (4.9 yards per carry) on one fewer rushing attempt (17) than Rico Dowdle, and he also caught both of his targets for 41 yards and a touchdown. The 26-year-old's 59% snap share was his highest number since back in Week 3, before he missed time due to injury and lost RB1 duties to Dowdle. It was the first time that Hubbard had over 100 scrimmage yards this year and the first time he scored since Week 8. Hubbard's TD came on a 35-yard screen pass in the first quarter. The Panthers will be on bye in Week 14, but it's possible Hubbard shares more of the backfield with Dowdle for a Week 15 divisional date with the Saints.

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Dylan Sampson Dec 1 12:50pm CT
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Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday that rookie running back Dylan Sampson (calf) is being considered day-to-day after suffering a calf injury in Sunday's loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Sampson was injured in the third quarter of the 26-8 loss and never returned, giving way for Jerome Ford to see more work as the RB2 behind rookie starter Quinshon Judkins. Before leaving, the 21-year-old had four carries for 23 yards on the ground. It sounds like Sampson will have a chance to play in Week 14 against the Tennessee Titans, but it will depend on how much he's able to do in practice this week. Sampson doesn't have any standalone fantasy value while working behind Judkins in Cleveland's backfield, but he's a viable handcuff in deeper leagues. The Tennessee product has averaged just 2.7 yards per carry on 42 rushing attempts in his first 12 NFL games and has yet to score a rushing touchdown in 2025.

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Sam Darnold Dec 1 12:40pm CT
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Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said on Seattle Sports on Monday that quarterback Sam Darnold (ankle) had a little bit of an ankle issue during Sunday's blowout win over the Minnesota Vikings, but that he "should be good to go" for Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons, according to Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune. Darnold was seen going into the medical tent on the sideline several times on Sunday, but the injury wasn't serious, and it shouldn't keep the 28-year-old from playing this weekend. He didn't need to do much in the easy 26-0 win over the Vikings, as Darnold went 14-for-26 passing for a season-low 128 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions in Week 13. Darnold should be able to bounce back against Atlanta and will be in play as a QB streamer in fantasy football as long as he doesn't aggravate his ankle issue.

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Aaron Jones Dec 1 12:40pm CT
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The Minnesota Vikings do not think that running back Aaron Jones Sr. (shoulder) suffered a serious shoulder injury in Sunday's blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13, and he is likely to be considered day-to-day, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Jones injured his shoulder in the third quarter on Sunday and never returned in the 26-0 loss. Jordan Mason took over the bulk of the backfield duties the rest of the way, with Zavier Scott backing him up. The 30-year-old Jones finished with only six carries for three yards (and a lost fumble) while catching all four of his targets for 22 yards through the air. Jones' injury isn't serious, but fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on his practice status this week as the team heads into a Week 14 clash against the Commanders. Even if Jones can play against Washington, he could cede more work to Mason in Minnesota's backfield if he's not 100%.

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Jayden Higgins Dec 1 12:10pm CT
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Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins is deserving of more attention off the waiver wire as he cements himself as the team's WR2 behind Nico Collins for the final stretch of the season. In the 20-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Higgins caught all five of his targets for 65 yards, which was second behind only Collins. It was another solid showing for the 22-year-old pass-catcher out of Iowa State after he had four catches on a season-high nine targets for 38 yards and his fourth touchdown of the year in last week's win over the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night. It was nice to see Higgins show plenty of chemistry in quarterback C.J. Stroud's first game back from a three-game absence due to a concussion. He now has 32 receptions for 359 yards and four TDs in his first 12 games, and Higgins should be viewed as an ascending WR4/flex option for fantasy managers going into a Week 14 showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.

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