Why Isn’t Josh Allen Playing Today? Bills Reveal Preseason Quarterback Plan

The Buffalo Bills have seen enough from quarterback Josh Allen so far to keep him off the field for the team’s first preseason game.

The team announced this week that Allen would not be playing in Saturday’s preseason opener against the New York Giants, a break from their plan in recent years. The team could instead have another big objective as they kick off a rare competition for the No. 2 job.

Josh Allen Won’t Appear in First Preseason Game

The Bills announced on Thursday that Allen would remain on the sidelines for their preseason opener, with other starters getting only minimal playing time.

“[Head coach Sean] McDermott said that QB Josh Allen will not play in Saturday’s home preseason game against the Giants and QB Mitch Trubisky will get the start,” the team noted. “Other starters on both the defense and offense will play ‘give or take’ one quarter, according to McDermott.”

Allen is coming off a season where he led the Bills to the AFC Championship game and won his first league MVP award, but also suffered through a nagging injury. Allen broke a bone in his left (non-throwing) hand while running for a touchdown in a Week 1 win over the Arizona Cardinals, dealing with some discomfort for the remainder of the season.

The Bills have said in the past that they want to avoid wear and tear on Allen as much as possible, so the decision to keep him out of Saturday’s game could have his long-term health in mind.

Though the Bills have normally given Allen some limited playing time in their first preseason game, the veteran quarterback has also proven that he can perform well with little to no time in the preseason. His breakout season came in 2020, when the NFL canceled preseason games amid tight health and safety restrictions during the pandemic.

Bills Aim to Give Backup Quarterbacks Time to Shine

The Bills will likely use Saturday’s game to evaluate both Trubisky and fellow veteran quarterback Mike White, who are competing for the chance to back up Allen.

The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia suggested that it is Trubisky’s job to lose, with the Bills favoring the former No. 2 overall pick. Trubisky spent the 2021 season with the Bills and then returned last season to serve as Allen’s backup.

“The backup competition has been mostly even between Trubisky and Mike White,” Buscaglia wrote. “However, a tie will likely go to Trubisky as he has more experience and is the least likely of the two to return to the Bills’ practice squad after final cuts. Trubisky is getting the start Saturday against the Giants, but make no mistake, this remains an open competition that the trio of preseason games will likely decide over the next few weeks.”

There could be some other drama in Saturday’s game, including uncertainty over running back James Cook. He has sat out several practices this week while seeking a new contract extension from the team, though the Bills have said they expect him to take the field to start the season.