Buffalo reloads on both offense and defense at the perfect moment, regaining the strength they’ve been missing as the playoff race tightens. The Bills head into a crucial AFC East showdown finally armed with a nearly complete roster.

Buffalo, NY — December 2025.
In a dramatic mid-December twist that could reshape the AFC playoff race, Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott confirmed on Tuesday that four critical starters—all previously sidelined with injuries—have officially been cleared to return for the team’s pivotal Week 15 showdown against the New England Patriots.

This is not just another injury update.
This is the moment Bills fans have been waiting for.

And it comes at the perfect time.

A MASSIVE HEALTH SURGE JUST WHEN BUFFALO NEEDED IT MOST

McDermott announced that right tackle Spencer Brown, wide receiver Josh Palmer, linebacker Terrel Bernard, and defensive end Joey Bosa have each completed full rehabilitation and passed all required medical benchmarks.

All four missed Buffalo’s emotional Week 14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, a game in which Josh Allen once again carried a shorthanded roster through a late-game surge. But now, Buffalo gets something even more powerful than momentum:

Their roster back. Their identity back. Their strength back.

Speaking in Orchard Park, McDermott didn’t hide his excitement.

“We’re getting four big-time players back,” he said. “They’re ready. They’re cleared. And this is the moment you want your guys healthy.”

JOEY BOSA: THE RETURN THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

The headline name in this group is unquestionably Joey Bosa, whose hamstring injury in late November left Buffalo without its premier edge rusher. Without him, the Bills’ defense has relied on situational pressure and timely turnovers rather than consistent disruption.

Now?
That changes instantly.

Bosa’s return restores Buffalo’s ability to collapse pockets, limit scrambling lanes, and create game-altering pressure—something they’ve desperately missed during their recent high-scoring battles.

With the Patriots looming and playoff football on the horizon, Bosa’s comeback is a seismic shift.

REVIVING THE OFFENSE: SPENCER BROWN AND JOSH PALMER RETURN

While Bosa boosts the defense, the offense gets an equally significant lift.

Spencer Brown, the anchor on the right side of the offensive line, returns to stabilize protection for Josh Allen. Brown’s absence forced multiple adjustments, and his return gives Buffalo its most complete offensive front in nearly a month.

Alongside him, Josh Palmer adds speed, separation, and perimeter reliability to a Bills offense that has recently leaned heavily on tight ends Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid.

With Palmer back in the rotation, Buffalo regains the vertical spacing and outside-threat dynamics that were missing against Cincinnati.

TERREL BERNARD: THE HEART OF THE DEFENSE RETURNS

On the defensive side, Terrel Bernard’s return restores leadership to the second level. Bernard’s instincts, communication, and sideline-to-sideline range bring structure to a unit that has survived on sheer grit in recent weeks.

With Bernard back, Buffalo regains its defensive “equalizer”—someone who can plug run lanes, diagnose motions, and neutralize short-game attacks.

A FULL ROSTER FOR THE BIGGEST GAME OF THE SEASON

All four players are expected to suit up for Sunday’s matchup against the Patriots—a game with massive implications for AFC East positioning and playoff seeding.

This is the healthiest the Bills have been since early October.

This is the deepest they’ve been all season.

And this is the moment where everything counts.

BUFFALO ENTERS THE FINAL STRETCH RELOADED

After an emotional, gritty victory over the Bengals, the Bills now get something even more valuable than confidence:

Reinforcements. Real ones. The kind that change seasons.

With Josh Allen no longer forced to carry a depleted lineup, Buffalo heads into the final three weeks fully armed for the battles ahead.

The message to the AFC is clear:

The Bills are back.
And now, they’re whole again.