After the Buffalo Bills secured a narrow 14-9 victory against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football, quarterback Josh Allen caused a stir when he headed straight to the locker room for X-rays on his throwing arm.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott assured reporters that Allen’s scans showed no significant issues, but the quarterback’s decision to opt for a walk-through instead of a regular practice on Wednesday, October 18, raised concerns among fans and analysts.
During the subsequent press conference on Wednesday, the Bills’ $258 million star swiftly dispelled any worries about the severity of his shoulder injury. “No concernment,” Allen stated firmly, putting to rest any speculations about his condition.
Despite the injury, Allen’s primary focus was on refining the team’s offense ahead of their upcoming matchup against the New England Patriots in Week 7. He expressed confidence, stating, “We’ll be ready to go.”
Addressing the nature of his shoulder problem, Allen categorized it as a matter of pain management, emphasizing that he was coping well with the situation. Contrary to assumptions, Allen revealed that the injury occurred in the second quarter, a hit preceding his tackle by Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke, which momentarily forced him out of the game for concussion evaluation.
Despite being officially listed as “limited” for Wednesday’s walk-through, there is widespread confidence that Allen will start when the Bills (4-2) face the Patriots (1-5) at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, October 22. Notably, Allen demonstrated remarkable resilience last season, playing through an elbow injury in Week 9 without missing a game.
While Allen received praise from across the league for defending his right tackle during a late-third-quarter scuffle, McDermott expressed his concerns about the quarterback getting involved. McDermott emphasized the need for Allen to be smart, urging him to let his teammates handle such situations.
Allen, reflecting on his decision to engage in the altercation despite his shoulder discomfort, admitted, “Probably shouldn’t do it, but I got a lot of trust and faith in my teammates.”
Regarding Allen’s health, McDermott remained cautious, adopting a one-day-at-a-time approach. He emphasized that communication with Allen would be key in assessing the situation as it progressed.
McDermott also explained the decision to conduct a walk-through instead of a full practice, attributing it to the team’s late Sunday night game in Week 6 and the need to allow players to recover and adjust after their trip to London.
In addition to Allen’s shoulder concern, several other players, including Kaiir Elam (ankle), Dane Jackson (foot), Cam Lewis (shoulder), and Greg Rousseau (foot), were limited in practice. Those not participating in practice included Ed Oliver (toe), Damien Harris (neck-concussion), and Quinton Morris (ankle).
