Skip to main content

Joshua Palmer injury update: Bills WR heads into medical tent following awkward landing on tackle

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax10/14/25BarkleyTruax
Josh Palmer
© Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Buffalo Bills WR Joshua Palmer left Monday night’s game against the Atlanta Falcons with an apparent leg injury. Palmer had to be evaluated in the medical tent.

Palmer caught a pass in the middle of the field by QB Josh Allen when he was brought down awkwardly. The Bills WR’s leg appeared to slide underneath him, dragging it across the turf while he was being tackled.

“He had his left ankle taped,” ESPNs Katie George said. “He’s currently in the back of the team box (on the sideline) trying to work through it so he can get back out there as well.”

The ESPN broadcast cut to Palmer on the sideline alongside some of the Bills medical staff early in the second quarter. He appeared to be favoring his leg in the moment. He was originally questionable to return, but was later ruled out in the second half.

Palmer was in the midst of a breakout performance against the Falcons. He caught both of his targets for 60 yards, including a 45-yards reception in the first quarter. The Bills trailed 14-7 at the time he left the game — one yard shy of his season-high with his new team.

Coming into the game, Palmer had caught 12 passes for 174 yards. This 45-yard reception is the longest of his season and tied for the third-longest reception of his career.

The wide receiver is in his first season with the Bills after spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Los Angeles Chargers. LA drafted Palmer in the third round, 77th overall during the 2021 NFL Draft after a prolific career at Tennessee.

Palmer missed some time during the 2023 season with a knee injury, but has never had to miss extended time with a major injury during his NFL career. Other than that, he’s never missed more than two games in a single season.

Fans can watch the rest of Monday night’s matchup like on ABC. The Bills vs. Falcons is the first of a two-game double-header on Monday night, which includes the Commanders vs. Bears.

The Bills will focus its pass-catching efforts on TE Dalton Kincaid, as well as WRs Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman. The trio is responsible for 748 of Josh Allen’s 1,217 passing yards coming into Monday’s matchup.

Palmer is aided by the fact that the Bills will be on their bye next weekend. That gives the former Volunteer an extra week to heal up in time for their next matchup against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 26.