With the regular season winding down and playoff implications looming large, the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills are set for a high-stakes Week 17 clash at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, December 29, 2025. Both teams come into the matchup with impressive records—Eagles at 10-5 and Bills at 11-4—but neither will be at full strength as a slew of notable names headline the inactive lists for both squads. The final rosters, injury updates, and late-breaking surprises promise to make this contest one of the weekend’s most closely watched games.
The Eagles, looking to build momentum heading into the postseason, announced six inactive players for the matchup. As expected, linebacker Nakobe Dean and right tackle Lane Johnson are sidelined due to injuries. Dean, who suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s win over the Commanders, was ruled out after leaving that game early and not returning. According to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, "Dean avoided a serious injury that would keep him out long-term, but he was not ready to go for this matchup." Dean’s absence opens the door for first-round rookie Jihad Campbell to step back into the starting lineup at linebacker alongside Zack Baun. Campbell, who started the first six games of the season when Dean was previously unavailable, will be tested by the Bills’ potent run game.
Lane Johnson, meanwhile, misses his sixth consecutive contest due to a stubborn Lisfranc foot injury. The Eagles have taken a cautious approach with their star right tackle, who hasn’t played since Week 11. Many believe the team is saving his return for the playoffs, given the severity of his injury and his value to the offensive line. Fred Johnson, who has capably filled in since Johnson’s initial absence, will continue to man the right tackle spot.
Perhaps the biggest surprise on the Eagles’ list is the absence of backup nickel cornerback Michael Carter II, ruled out for personal reasons just hours before kickoff. It’s Carter’s first missed game as an Eagle since being acquired from the New York Jets last month, and his absence leaves a noticeable gap in the secondary and on special teams. The Eagles quickly elevated Mac McWilliams and Brandon Johnson as emergency backups, with the expectation that Johnson will serve as the backup nickel behind Cooper DeJean and provide safety depth if needed. "At 2:41 PM, the Eagles ruled him out due to ‘not injury related - personal,’" reported PhillyVoice.
Additional Eagles inactives include edge rusher Joshua Uche, who is a healthy scratch for the fifth straight week, and running back A.J. Dillon, who has now been inactive in nine of the last ten games as the fourth man on the depth chart behind Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, and Will Shipley. Quarterback Sam Howell rounds out the list, serving as the emergency third quarterback behind starter Jalen Hurts and backup Tanner McKee. NFL rules dictate that Howell can only enter the game if both Hurts and McKee are unable to play.
On the positive side, the Eagles’ defense gets a significant boost with the return of Jalen Carter. After missing time due to a shoulder injury and undergoing a procedure on December 1, Carter is active and ready to anchor the defensive line. His presence could be pivotal against a Bills offense that has shown flashes of explosiveness throughout the season.
The Eagles’ inactive list for Week 17 is as follows: Lane Johnson (foot), Nakobe Dean (hamstring), Michael Carter II (personal), Joshua Uche (healthy scratch), A.J. Dillon (healthy scratch), and Sam Howell (emergency QB). Several other Eagles remain on injured reserve, including safety Andrew Mukuba, wide receiver Johnny Wilson, edge rushers Ogbo Okoronkwo and Azeez Ojulari, fullback Ben VanSumeren, and offensive linemen Willie Lampkin, Myles Hinton, and Cameron Williams. While some are eligible to return, none are expected to suit up for this critical contest.
The Buffalo Bills, meanwhile, are not without their own challenges. Their inactive list features a mix of starters and key contributors, most notably tight end Dalton Kincaid, who leads the team in touchdown receptions and ranks second in both receiving yards and catches. Kincaid’s absence is a major blow for quarterback Josh Allen, as the rookie tight end has been a reliable target all season. The Bills will also be without starting defensive tackles DaQuan Jones (calf) and Jordan Phillips (ankle), starting safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring), kicker Matt Prater (quad), wide receiver Keon Coleman, and offensive lineman Tylan Grable. With Prater out, Michael Badgley is set to handle kicking duties for Buffalo.
The Bills’ injury woes extend beyond the inactive list. The team has a lengthy injured reserve, including defensive tackle Ed Oliver, defensive end Michael Hoecht, defensive end Landon Jackson, defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, safety Taylor Rapp, safety Damar Hamlin, and wide receivers Curtis Samuel and Mecole Hardman. The attrition has tested the Bills’ depth on both sides of the ball, forcing younger players and recent practice squad call-ups into larger roles.
Despite the setbacks, both teams have shown resilience throughout the season. The Eagles, under head coach Nick Sirianni, have weathered injuries to key players and remain in strong playoff position. The Bills, led by Sean McDermott, have also navigated adversity, relying on a balanced attack and timely defensive plays to secure their spot atop the AFC East. With postseason seeding on the line, the stakes could hardly be higher.
Fans can tune into the action at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, with radio coverage provided by 97.3 ESPN in South Jersey, featuring the familiar voices of Merrill Reese and Mike Quick. The atmosphere at Highmark Stadium is expected to be electric, as both fanbases know the importance of a late-season victory in shaping the playoff picture.
As kickoff approaches, all eyes are on how the Eagles’ patchwork lineup will fare against a Bills squad missing several stars of its own. Will Jihad Campbell rise to the occasion in his return to the starting lineup? Can Fred Johnson continue to hold the line in Lane Johnson’s absence? How will the Eagles’ secondary adjust without Michael Carter II, and can Jalen Carter’s return disrupt the Bills’ offensive rhythm?
One thing’s for sure: with playoff hopes and momentum on the line, both teams will leave it all on the field. The outcome remains to be seen, but the buildup has already delivered plenty of drama. As the Eagles and Bills face off in this pivotal Week 17 showdown, the NFL world will be watching every snap, every adjustment, and every big play that could tip the scales in this battle of playoff contenders.
With rosters set and the stakes clear, Sunday’s game promises to be a defining moment in the 2025 NFL season for both Philadelphia and Buffalo. The action is about to get underway, and the next chapter in this late-season saga is ready to be written.
