The AFC East title may be out of reach, but the Bills are still fighting for a favorable playoff seed. The spotlight is on Josh Allen as Buffalo prepares for its Week 18 game one last time at Highmark Stadium. Fans are also watching Joey Bosa closely, with injuries shaping how this Sunday’s game against the Jets could unfold.

For the Bills, a lot hinges on Josh Allen continuing his starting streak of 121 games. The Bills quarterback did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday because of a foot injury. He returned as a limited participant on Friday, which is often a good sign. While his official game status is still unclear, Allen being back on the field late in the week suggests he is trending toward playing. Buffalo usually takes a careful approach with him, but he could still be seen playing a first snap again to protect his streak.

Defensively, the Bills are dealing with important absences. Linebacker Terrel Bernard, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, and safety Jordan Poyer have all been ruled out. That is a big loss for the Bills’ defense. Joey Bosa is another name to watch closely. He missed practice earlier in the week with a hamstring injury but returned as a limited participant on Friday.

He is listed as questionable, and his presence could make a difference in pressuring the quarterback. The Bills also have multiple players listed as questionable, including tight end Dalton Kincaid and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips. Dawson Knox and several others were full participants on Friday, which brings some relief to the offense.

Meanwhile, the traveling New York Jets are heading into the final week with several key players already ruled out. The biggest concern on offense is running back Breece Hall. He was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday and is listed as questionable due to a knee injury. If Hall cannot play, the Jets’ run game could take a big hit.

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is also questionable with a knee issue after limited practices late in the week. The Jets have already confirmed that Michael Clemons, Isaiah Davis, Xavier Newman, Qwan’tez Stiggers, Mason Taylor, and Jelani Woods will not play. That removes depth from both sides of the ball. On a positive note, players like Harrison Phillips, Kene Nwangwu, and Cam Jones were full participants on Friday, which helps soften the damage.

Overall, this injury report makes the game harder to predict. If Josh Allen plays, even at less than full strength, the Bills still carry the edge. If the reigning MVP sits out, though, a lot could change. The same goes for Joey Bosa and Breece Hall. As the kickoff approaches, final inactive lists will tell the real story. Until then, all eyes remain on Josh Allen and whether he leads the Bills onto the field in Week 18.

Josh Allen injury watch: Why Bills fans are nervous heading into week 18

Something feels off with Josh Allen heading into the final week of the season. With the playoffs looming, every practice rep matters, and Allen’s right foot injury has suddenly become impossible to ignore. The Bills quarterback has been dealing with soreness since Week 17, initially labeled “day-to-day” after medical checks came back clean. He even pushed through it against the Eagles, but a negative X-ray came as good news for the team.

Allen missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday this week, raising fresh questions. He finally returned on Friday as a limited participant, which is usually a good sign. But one image from practice quickly changed the mood. A photo shared online showed Allen’s foot looking swollen or heavily taped. His cleat even appeared cut near the front, possibly to reduce pressure.

That small visual sparked worry. Fans began asking if the injury is worse than the team is letting on. No official statement says Allen will miss the game, but the signs are mixed. Allen has already spoken ahead of the game about his excitement as the Bills don red helmets as a tribute to the past, playing their final home game at a stadium feared by many opponents for around half a century. Even in Week 18, they cannot afford to guess with their star player’s health. Whether he plays or rests, this foot injury is now something that will be observed closely with every single snap.