Brady wants Kincaid involved after routes and targets fall against New England

Dalton Kincaid’s seven-yard afternoon against New England was accompanied by a smaller passing-game role, and Joe Brady says Buffalo needs to get its tight end involved again. For RSO owners, the useful question heading toward Monday’s Rams game is whether the routes return along with the targets.

The Bills’ official Monday report said Kincaid ran a route on 17 of Buffalo’s 34 dropbacks in its 29–26 loss, his lowest route total of the season. He was targeted twice and finished with one catch for seven yards. NFL.com’s game log independently confirms the catch and yardage totals.

The contrast with September is substantial. Kincaid caught five passes for 130 yards in the opener at Houston, then seven for 95 yards and a touchdown against Detroit. His next two games produced two catches for 38 yards against the Chargers and the single catch against New England.

Brady accepted responsibility for failing to involve Kincaid enough. The Bills’ report also described a late two-point opportunity: Kincaid blocked before releasing into open space, while Josh Allen tried a throw to Joshua Palmer instead. The Bills’ report described the missed chance as a potential 28–21 lead late in the fourth quarter.

That example shows why targets alone do not describe the entire game. Kincaid could be open without receiving a pass; he could also be blocking rather than running a route. His 17 routes give owners a separate measure of how often a receiving opportunity was available in the first place.

Brady’s response does not guarantee a rebound against Los Angeles. The next evidence is Buffalo’s actual personnel use, Kincaid’s route participation and whether Allen looks his way. A coach acknowledging a problem is meaningful, but it does not settle a future target count.

An RSO valuation should keep those short-term usage questions alongside the player’s contract and the league’s scoring. One quiet week does not erase the opening two games, and the opening two games do not ensure the next one. Buffalo’s next game is Monday, October 12, against the Rams.