The Buffalo Bills have just found their rhythm after a huge win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And while they are preparing for their Week 12 matchup against the Houston Texans, wide receiver Khalil Shakir’s absense from practice had the Bills Mafia worried. Notably, the Bills had listed Shakir’s absence from practice as “personal” for two consecutive days this week. But it turns out that Shakir wasn’t sidelined by injury, he was just stepping into fatherhood.

Khalil Shakir and his wife, Sayler, just welcomed their first child this week. Sayler revealed the joyful news through a heartfelt Instagram post on November 18.

“11/17/25, Sunny Haven Shakir, you are oh so loved already💗,” she wrote in the caption of the post.

The picture attached to the post then showed Khalil Shakir’s newborn daughter, Sunny Haven, sleeping peacefully in a hospital bassinet. She wore a butterfly-print sleeper with a matching hat, making the moment feel soft and charming. A round wooden sign with her name rested beside her, adding a personal touch. The black-and-white filter only made the moment feel more timeless. 

Khalil then replied to the post simply with: “🤞🏽❤️❤️.” This day marks a new chapter in the Shakir family. And what a journey they’ve had. Khalil first met Sayler at Boise State University, where both stood out as student-athletes. After dating for about a year and a half, Khalil proposed on March 29, 2022. 

The couple then tied the knot less than a year later, on March 13, 2023, at Ruby Hill Winery in Northern California. Then, after signing a four-year, $53 million extension in June this year, Khalil shared even more happy news with his wife. Sayler made an Instagram post to announce that they were expecting their first child. 

With a soft, affectionate photo of the couple holding their sonogram, the caption of the post simply read, “December ❤️.” And Khalil replied to the post with: “I love you 🤞🏽❤️” Fast-forward a few months, and the Bills’ wideout has officially joined a growing list of new parents in Buffalo’s locker room. 

Bills backup quarterback Shane Buechele and his wife, Paige, welcomed their daughter, Blaize Haven, in April this year. Then Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard and his wife welcomed baby Jordy Rea not long after. Even Bills’ long snapper, Reid Ferguson, celebrated the birth of his third child in September. 

Is something in the Buffalo water? Bills Mafia certainly has plenty of new members to cheer for. But while Khalil Shakir added yet another new member to the Mafia, fans might also be wondering about his availability this week.

When will Khalil Shakir return to play for the Bills?

So, the good news for Bills Mafia is that Khalil Shakir could rejoin practice as early as November 19. If that happens, he would enter the Week 12 game against the Texans with no injury designation. 

Considering the Bills’ current situation, Khalil Shakir’s return would bring a huge sigh of relief. The Bills already might be without tight end Dalton Kincaid. He did not practice this week because of a hamstring issue. Meanwhile, WR Keon Coleman was sidelined in Week 11 for disciplinary reasons after missing a team meeting. It’s unclear if he’ll be back. 

So, Khalil suddenly becomes crucial for Bills QB Josh Allen. The WR already leads the team with 454 receiving yards on 46 catches and three touchdowns. He has 61 targets and averages 45.4 yards per game this season. Those numbers show how central he is to the offense. Yet his Week 11 performance told a different story. 

Khalil Shakir finished with negative yardage against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11 – the worst outing of his career. That kind of drop-off is surprising, especially since he had posted a dominant 20-189-1 stat line on 24 targets in the last three games. As such, the Bills’ WR now faces a challenging week filled with responsibilities and expectations as the Bills take on the Texans on Thursday Night Football.