Toward the end of the first quarter during last week's game against the Ravens, Buffalo Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins could tell something wasn't right with his body.
"I felt it immediately. I was like, 'Dang, something's up,'" Dawkins said.
Dawkins fought through a rib injury for the remaining three quarters, but now his status is in doubt for Monday night's contest against the Vikings. The left tackle has not participated in practice Thursday or Friday but is still optimistic for his chances.
"I'm blessed that I'm getting through it. I pushed through it through the Ravens game and I'm trying to push through it for this game as well," Dawkins said.
Though he hasn't suited up for practice yet, with one final session remaining Saturday, Dawkins shared that he's been doing everything he can to heal up.
"I've been winning my battles off the field to try my best to be available on Monday," he said.
A decade into his career, one of Dawkins' best traits is his availability.
"I've been here for 10 years. I've had thousands and thousands of reps on the football field, and I've only missed two games my whole career," Dawkins said.
The last time the five-time Pro Bowler missed a game was Week 13 of last year against the Steelers due to a concussion. Prior to that, Dawkins hadn't missed a game since December 2022.
"I do everything to try to be as available as possible. And I think that that's my superpower," he said.
Buffalo's offense didn't miss a beat the last time it was without its left tackle, rushing 51 times for 249 yards against the Steelers. The Bills were also down right tackle Spencer Brown, making the feat that much more remarkable. That night in Pittsburgh, the Bills leaned on backups Ryan Van Demark and Alec Anderson to fill the holes left by Dawkins and Brown.
This time, however, Buffalo may not be able to rely on the same contingency plan. Van Demark is now with the Vikings, while Anderson, now the starting left guard, is dealing with an ankle injury and has missed the first two days of practice.
"This league has a 100% injury rate. It's only a matter of time for it to knock on everyone's door, whether it's the low end or the high end. It's going to come knocking no matter what," Dawkins said.
The potential absences would come at a particularly challenging time. Under defensive coordinator Brian Flores, the Vikings lead the NFL in pressure rate and have blitzed at a historic rate this season, putting an even greater emphasis on communication and continuity along the offensive line.
"[Flores] is up there playing video games — in a good way. He's just dicing it up and just going and it keeps guys on their toes," Dawkins said. "I'm excited to see how this one goes because of the communication and identification of what's out there."
A positive development for Buffalo's O-line is Spencer Brown returning to practice this week. Brown said Thursday at his press conference that he's feeling "good" after missing Week 8 with a back injury. Third-year offensive lineman Tylan Grable filled in during Brown's absence against Baltimore.
"He played his tail off again and just super happy for the guy going out there and executing," Brown said, referencing how Grable also stepped up when Brown briefly left the Rams game due to injury.
If Dawkins were to miss Monday's game, it's possible the Bills call upon Grable to move over to the left side of the line this week. For Anderson, if he's unable to go, it's more than likely the Bills turn to veteran guard Austin Corbett who battled for the LG spot during training camp.
"I see a player that understands his role and knows what he has to do to come in and play," Dawkins said of Corbett. "He's going to come in and do exactly what we're asking him to. And that's to block, communicate and hold his presence."
Bills Friday Injury Report
Scroll to see the best photos from the Buffalo Bills practice at the Kaleida Health Performance Center in Orchard Park, NY.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Tyrell Shavers (14). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Reid Ferguson (69). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Reid Ferguson (69). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Tommy Doman Jr. (39). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Tommy Doman Jr. (39). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Tommy Doman Jr. (39). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Tommy Doman Jr. (39). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Tommy Doman Jr. (39). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Tyrell Shavers (14). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Michael Hoecht (55). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Michael Hoecht (55). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Michael Hoecht (55). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Michael Hoecht (55). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Greg Dortch (19). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Cole Bishop (24). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Shaq Thompson (54). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Brock Lampe (45). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Greg Dortch (19). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Greg Dortch (19). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Greg Dortch (19). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Phidarian Mathis (72). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Phidarian Mathis (72). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Bradley Chubb (9). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Te'Cory Couch (33). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Tyrell Shavers (14). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17), Tylan Grable (68), Austin Corbett (63), Terrel Bernard (8), Spencer Brown (79), Connor McGovern (66), Ty Johnson (26), DJ Moore (2), Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Kyle Allen (11). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17), Kyle Allen (11). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17), Shane Buechele (6). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17), Shane Buechele (6). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17), Shane Buechele (6). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Tyrell Shavers (14), Davison Igbinosun (21). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Greg Rousseau (15). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Greg Rousseau (15). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Greg Rousseau (15). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Bradley Chubb (9). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Michael Hoecht (55). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Michael Hoecht (55). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Landon Jackson (94). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
TJ Parker (99). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Mike Danna (51). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Kader Kohou (38). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Christian Benford (47). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Maxwell Hairston (1). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Maxwell Hairston (1). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Damar Hamlin (3). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Geno Stone (25). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Kani Walker (41). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Kani Walker (41). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Dee Alford (23). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Jalon Kilgore (29). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Geno Stone (25). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Geno Stone (25). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Dee Alford (23). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Cole Bishop (24). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Cole Bishop (24). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Ray Davis (7). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Keleki Latu (83). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
DJ Moore (2), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Keon Coleman (0), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Trent Sherfield (18). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Trent Sherfield (18). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
DJ Moore (2). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
DJ Moore (2). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
DJ Moore (2), Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
DJ Moore (2). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
DJ Moore (2). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
DJ Moore (2), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
James Cook (4), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
James Cook (4), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Ray Davis (7). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Greg Dortch (19). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
DJ Moore (2). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Terrel Bernard (8), Maxwell Hairston (1). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Frank Gore Jr. (20). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Ray Davis (7). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Josh Allen (17), Shane Buechele (6). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Joe Brady. Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Joe Brady. Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Travis Clayton (67), T.J. Sanders (98), DeWayne Carter (90), Zane Durant (92), Landon Jackson (94). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
Travis Clayton (67), T.J. Sanders (98), DeWayne Carter (90), Zane Durant (92), Landon Jackson (94), Phidarian Mathis (72). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, November 06, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.
