Game three of the Buffalo Bills preseason will be Josh Allen‘s first chance to shine as the number one quarterback.
The team announced on Monday that Allen will start Sunday’s clash with the Cincinnati Bengals. Kickoff gets underway at 4 p.m. ET with FOX providing national television coverage.
Josh Allen has been named the starting QB for Sunday’s game against the Bengals. #CINvsBUF pic.twitter.com/HyVjIqZCOm
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 20, 2018
Buffalo Bills Announce Josh Allen Will Start Team’s Third Preseason Game
Over the course of training camp and the preseason, Allen has gradually received increased first-team reps. The rookie out of Wyoming began training camp third on the depth chart. Nothing changed when the Bills took on the Carolina Panthers in their preseason opener, with Allen not making his debut until the second half.
He closed the game on a good note, connecting with fellow rookie Ray Ray McCloud on a 14-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter. But he completed just 47.3 percent of his passes in the 28-23 loss.
A week later, against the Cleveland Browns, Allen was the second Bills quarterback to receive game reps. He replaced A.J. McCarron in the second quarter, leading the team on a 15-play, 80-yard drive that took nearly eight minutes off the clock. It culminated with him finding Rod Streater in the end zone in a game the Bills eventually won 19-17. Overall, it was an improved effort in comparison to his previous outing against the Panthers.
It later became known that McCarron suffered a collarbone injury before coming out. Tests on Monday indicated he did not suffer a hairline fracture which was the initial diagnosis. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that he’s currently day-to-day.
After a few days of testing, #Bills QB AJ McCarron received good news. It was not a hairline fracture, as I was told (@AdamSchefter on it 1st). McCarron is day-to-day and should practice when the soreness goes away. Sounded like he was in a lot of pain so unclear when that is.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 20, 2018
His availability to play against his former team this coming Sunday is up in the air. What appears certain is that Nathan Peterman will assume the second-string role when the Bills welcome Cincy to New Era Field. But in a game that’s considered the most important of the preseason, how Allen performs will go a long way to determine whether or not head coach Sean McDermott is comfortable making him the Week One starter.
