Bills Face Steelers Without Starting Tackles

The Buffalo Bills will face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday without their starting offensive tackles and several other key contributors, as head coach Sean McDermott confirmed the absences on Friday ahead of the Week 13 matchup at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Left tackle Dion Dawkins, a four-time Pro Bowl selection and the anchor of Buffalo's offensive line since his 2017 draft, remains sidelined by a concussion sustained during the team's 23-19 loss to the Houston Texans on November 20. Dawkins initially returned to that game after an evaluation but reported symptoms the following day, entering the NFL's concussion protocol. He did not participate in full practice on Friday, preventing clearance for the weekend. Right tackle Spencer Brown, who has started most games at the position since 2021, is out with a right shoulder injury from the same Texans contest that could sideline him for multiple weeks. The absences leave quarterback Josh Allen, the reigning NFL MVP, without his primary protectors against a Steelers pass rush led by T.J. Watt.

McDermott also ruled out linebacker Terrel Bernard, a defensive leader with an elbow injury, and wide receiver Curtis Samuel, dealing...