Key facts
- Josh Allen played only in the Bills’ preseason opener and will not play Thursday against the Steelers
- Allen’s next game action will come September 13 against the Houston Texans in Week 1
- Some other Bills starters will play Thursday; decisions on which ones will come after Tuesday practice
- Head coach Joe Brady said Allen could call offensive plays during the Steelers game
The decision
Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady announced on Tuesday that quarterback Josh Allen will not play in the team’s preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night. Allen appeared in the Bills’ preseason opener but will not see action again before the regular season begins.
When Allen will return
Brady said Allen’s next snaps against an opponent will come in Week 1 on September 13, when the Bills face the Houston Texans. This marks a common preseason approach in which starting quarterbacks limit their exposure to injury in games that do not count toward the regular season record.
Role in Thursday’s game
Although Allen will not play, Brady indicated that he could be involved in calling some of the team’s offensive plays during the Steelers matchup, giving him an opportunity to be active on the sideline.
Other starters’ availability
Brady also confirmed that some of the Bills’ other starters will play in Thursday’s game. The specific roster decisions on which players will participate will be finalized after the team’s practice session on Tuesday.
Sources
Featured photo: Tennessee Titans via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)