Just days before the Buffalo Bills’ Thursday Night Football game against the Houston Texans on Prime Video, wide receiver Khalil Shakir became a proud father.
Shakir and his wife Sayler announced the arrival of their child, Sunny Haven Shakir, on Instagram, a post that garnered reactions from fellow Bills players, their partners, and fans. This joyous news comes after Shakir had to miss some games this season due to ankle and rib injuries.
Sayler posted the heartfelt message “You are oh so loved already,” to which Khalil responded with heart emojis. The post attracted comments from Hillary Trubisky, wife of backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who recently congratulated Baker Mayfield on the birth of his child.
Bills safety Jordan Poyer’s wife, Rachel Bush, and reporter Maddy Glab also chimed in with their compliments.
Shakir’s absence from practice was noted on the injury report on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but the team never officially ruled him out. As the week began, only three players were confirmed as inactive for Thursday’s game: Mecole Hardman Jr.
As the week began, only three players were confirmed as inactive for Thursday’s game: Mecole Hardman Jr., Dalton Kincaid, and Curtis Samuel, while defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis remained questionable.
With three receivers out, the Bills are thin at the position, making Shakir’s availability even more critical as a short-week decision.
The news of the birth coincided with the Bills announcing that Allen had been named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the seventeenth time in his career. He earned this accolade following a stellar performance against Tampa Bay, where he scored three passing and three rushing touchdowns, tying Cam Newton’s record for most career rushing scores by a quarterback.
Allen also broke Peyton Manning’s record for the most passing touchdowns by age 30 with his 290th. His six-touchdown display propelled the Bills to a 44-32 victory just days before another primetime game.
Shakir has been a consistent contributor to Buffalo’s offense this season, recording 46 catches for 454 yards and three touchdowns in the first part of the 2025 season.
His stats put him in the upper half of the league across several receiving metrics, including being tied for thirtieth in total catches and tied for forty-ninth in touchdowns.
His average of 7.9 yards after each catch underscores his ability to extend plays in open field. Shakir’s passer rating of 101.6 when targeted demonstrates how often he rewards Allen’s trust in timing routes and quick-break concepts.
After a career-best 821 yards and four TDs last year, the Bills rewarded Shakir with a four-year contract extension worth up to $60.2 million. The Bills (7-3) are striving to keep pace with New England (9-2) in the AFC East, trailing the Patriots by two games. The Bills have held the division title consecutively since 2020.
