PHOENIX – The Buffalo Bills have picked up tight end Dalton Kincaid’s fifth-year option, but their continued investment doesn’t necessarily reflect the soundness of his troublesome knee.

After a fine rookie campaign, Kincaid’s availability and production dwindled in the past two seasons.

Three months into the offseason, Bills general manager Brandon Beane can’t say for certain whether Kincaid will require load management to get through training camp.

“It’s too early to tell,” Beane said Monday while attending the NFL owners meetings at the Arizona Biltmore. “We’re hopeful and optimistic that he won’t, but we’ll just see how that goes.

“Some of these guys, in my experience, you can get them through the offseason, but training camp is training camp. So we’ll see how that’s going in training camp. Is he having to go two days on and one a little less or off? We’ve just got to make sure it’s smart.”

Kincaid tore his left PCL in November 2024. He declined to have surgery, and it lingered through last season. He also dealt with hamstring and oblique injuries.

He missed five games last season and started only five, including the playoffs. He caught 39 passes for 571 yards and a personal-best five touchdowns. As a rookie in 2023, the 25th overall draft pick finished second to Stefon Diggs with 73 receptions for 673 yards and two TDs.

Even when healthy enough to dress last year, Beane conceded Kincaid’s snaps were limited to preserve the knee and maximize effectiveness. Kincaid played a career-low 38 percent of his available offensive snaps. That led to him being deployed almost exclusively in passing situations, adding to the predictability of Joe Brady’s play calls.

“You just hope you have no setbacks,” Beane said. “Unfortunately, that thing flared up and it was just tough to calm down.”

Kincaid again declined to have surgery on the torn PCL after consulting with multiple doctors. Beane revealed Kincaid is not rehabbing at One Bills Drive, but added the Bills’ medical staff has been in contact with Kincaid about his training program.

Despite Kincaid’s injury history, Beane lauded him for working on durability — a criticism the organization had about Kincaid after the 2024 season.

“Dalton did get stronger,” Beane said. “I think, his whole body, he did hold up better. I think just the knee was bothersome.

“What happens is you’re fighting that battle of rest and not playing and getting out of rhythm versus keeping him going. When you’re in season, you can’t just shut him down. So we tried to manage that. His reps came, when he was on the field, was a passing situation.

“We’d like it to be where he’s able to play more.”

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks could return to the Bills next season. (Melina Myers / Imagn Images)

Bills still looking to improve at WR

Beane has been in contact with Brandin Cooks about a possible return and added that trading the Bills’ second-round pick for D.J. Moore and a fifth-rounder wouldn’t preclude them from drafting another receiver in the first round.

“Definitely still open to that,” Beane said.

The Bills’ receiver depth chart currently consists of Moore, Khalil Shakir, Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman, Tyrell Shavers, Mecole Hardman and Trent Sherfield in addition to previous practice squad members Stephen Gosnell and Jalen Virgil.

“All those guys have different skill sets,” Beane said. “Some are kind of one position. Some are outside. Some are inside. What’s another piece? If there’s a guy we think that’s another piece … Also, does he do anything extra other than receiver? Is he a gunner? Is he a punt returner? How does he get to game day? How does he help us? Is he getting a jersey?

“Those would be the conversations, but, yes, if there’s a dynamic player that can help us — starter or not — at receiver, we would take him at 26.”

Cooks, entering his 13th NFL season, caught 10 passes for 192 yards and no touchdowns in seven Bills games, although his presence added a downfield threat they didn’t otherwise have.

Beane explained that he and Cooks are holding off until they see how the draft shakes out. Both parties want to know whether the draft will impact where he fits before committing.

A similar wait-and-see situation is influencing how Beane has approached free-agent linebackers.

“We do need to continue to add more,” Beane said. “We’ve had conversations through free agency with linebackers, other positions. We have not chosen to add one at this point. But there’s also guys that are, like, ‘You know what? I didn’t get maybe the money I was looking for, and I kind of want to wait until after the draft to see where guys go. I don’t want to sign and then have (my team) take somebody in the first round.’”

Beane discusses moving back into the second round

Bills scouts will converge on One Bills Drive this week to refine their final draft board, and if there is better value among second-round prospects, then Beane said he wouldn’t hesitate to slide back from their assigned 26th overall slot and accumulate extra capital.

“We’ll start Thursday of this week,” said Beane, “and kind of go through what’s happened since Indy, pro days and private (workouts) and start cleaning this thing out and seeing where depth is at positions.

“I think if we feel there’s a lot of players (with second-round grades), then I need to find a way, whether that’s, ‘Hey, you know what? We see more value there. Let’s trade back and see if we can get a player there plus another fourth or third.’”

Bills-Browns agree to join practice

While unofficial until the NFL approves the proposal, the Bills and Cleveland Browns will hold a one-day joint practice in Ohio between the first and second preseason games.

“Right now, a lot of people are doing the joint practice thing and not playing guys definitely in that third preseason game,” Beane said. “That third preseason game really has become those guys fighting for the last spot, young players that need reps more than the guys that we all know are going to be on the 53.”

Offensive line Rubik’s Cube

Beane somewhat clarified the forecast for the Bills’ new interior offensive linemen.

Lloyd Cushenberry, who started 80 games at center for the Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos, is targeted to be Connor McGovern’s primary backup, while former Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Rams and Browns center/guard Austin Corbett will compete with Alec Anderson for the left guard opening. Corbett has started 84 games, including at right guard in the Rams’ Super Bowl victory four years ago.

“He’s a proven starter, well-regarded, brings leadership and intelligence to the room,” Beane said of Corbett. “He’ll be in the mix — probably the shortest path to being a starter — to win the left guard (opening), but he can play center for us as well.”

As for the battle, Beane said: “I think there’s going to be a good competition at left guard. I wouldn’t want to give that to (Anderson) or anyone else. I would say because Alec’s been here, if we played a game right now, he knows the system and probably’d be out there first. But between now and when we get the pads on, I think it’ll be a wide-open competition.”