Bills fans will finally have their first look at Josh Allen ahead of the 2021 regular season.
Sean McDermott announced Thursday that the star quarterback will start on Saturday in Buffalo's preseason finale against the Green Bay Packers.
Allen, 25, did not play in either of the Bills' preseason victories against the Lions and Bears.
McDermott declined to reveal how long Allen may play for, but did note that most of the starters will take the field with play time varying from player to player.
One would have to imagine the Bills won't play Allen, who signed a monster extension earlier this month, for longer than a half, but any amount of snaps should benefit the young signal-caller as he enters Year 4.
Preseason news
- Denver Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton is expected to see some snaps against the Rams on Saturday, NFL Network's James Palmer reported. The contest would be his first game action since tearing his ACL Week 2 of last season. Palmer added that Sutton informed him that getting these snaps is the last box to check in his recovery. Also, tight end Noah Fant will not play Saturday due to a lower left leg injury, Palmer reported. Although the ailment has sidelined Fant for the past few days, he is not expected to miss any time in the regular season.
- The Los Angeles Chargers plan to start quarterback Chase Daniel in the first half of their preseason finale against the Seahawks, with Easton Stick slated to play the second half.
Injuries/COVID-19
- The Tennessee Titans placed quarterback Ryan Tannehill, tight end Geoff Swaim and linebacker Justin March-Lillard on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The Titans placed defensive lineman Kyle Peko on injured reserve. They activated center Aaron Brewer from the non-football injury list.
- An MRI has determined that New York Giants cornerback Adoree' Jackson suffered a low-ankle sprain in Wednesday's practice, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Jackson's availability for Week 1 is still in play.
- The Indianapolis Colts placed left tackle Eric Fisher and guard Quenton Nelson on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Fisher is continuing to work his way back from torn Achilles.
- The Arizona Cardinals placed cornerback Robert Alford, who is vaccinated, on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
- Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor told reporters rookie defensive end Joseph Ossai recently underwent surgery to repair the meniscus he injured against the Buccaneers in the preseason opener. Taylor noted that he doesn't know yet if Ossai, who will likely be out for the year, will be placed on injured reserve before final cuts are made.
- Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson needs a “minor procedure” on his knee and will be “out the next few weeks”, according to coach Sean McVay.
- The New Orleans Saints activated defensive back KeiVarae Russell from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Roster signings
- The Indianapolis Colts signed tight end Andrew Vollert.
- The Seattle Seahawks signed tight end Ian Bunting. An undrafted prospect in 2019, Bunting fills the void left by Luke Willson, who retired a day after re-signing with the club.
- The Chicago Bears signed defensive back Dionte Ruffin.
- The Tennessee Titans signed running back Javian Hawkins , linebacker Cassh Maluia and defensive back Nate Brooks.
- The Washington Football Team signed center Jon Toth.
Trades
- The Carolina Panthers traded a conditional seventh-round pick to the New York Giants for kicker Ryan Santoso.
- The Baltimore Ravens traded 2021 fifth-round cornerback Shaun Wade to the New England Patriots.
Roster cuts
- The Chicago Bears waived receiver Javon Wims and defensive back Michael Joseph from injured reserve.
- The Washington Football Team released tight end Temarrick Hemingway.
- The New Orleans Saints waived defensive back Bryce Thompson.
- The Carolina Panthers waived kicker Dominik Eberle, linebacker Nate Hall and defensive back LaDarius Wiley.
- The Las Vegas Raiders waived linebacker Te'Von Coney and removed wide receiver Trey Quinn and defensive tackle Darius Stills from injured reserve with injury settlements.
- The Dallas Cowboys removed linebacker Anthony Hines from injured reserve with an injury settlement.
- The Denver Broncos removed wide receiver DeVontres Dukes from injured reserve with an injury settlement.
- The Jacksonville Jaguars removed wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe and wide receiver Tim Jones from injured reserve with injury settlements and released offensive tackle Garrett McGhin.
- The Kansas City Chiefs removed tight end Evan Baylis and wide receiver Antonio Callaway from injured reserve with injury settlements and released running back Elijah McGuire and wide receiver Chad Williams with injury settlements.
- The New York Jets removed defensive tackle Michael Dwumfour and running back Walter Austin from injured reserve with injury settlements.
- The Philadelphia Eagles removed running back Kerryon Johnson from injured reserve with an injury settlement.
- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers removed wide receiver John Franklin from injured reserve with an injury settlement.
- The Buffalo Bills released guard Forrest Lamp with an injury settlement.
- The Cleveland Browns released defensive end Romeo McKnight.
- The Green Bay Packers released wide receivers Chris Blair and DeAndre Thompkins and tight end Isaac Nauta.
- The Los Angeles Chargers released defensive tackle T.J. Smith.
- The Los Angeles Rams released long snapper Steven Wirtel.
- The Minnesota Vikings released offensive tackle Evin Ksiezarczyk and kicker Riley Patterson.
- The New York Giants released quarterback Clayton Thorson.
- The San Francisco 49ers released wide receiver Austin Watkins.
- The Tennessee Titans released defensive back Maurice Smith.
- The Atlanta Falcons cut punter Sterling Hofrichter from injured reserve.
- The Buffalo Bills cut wide receiver Duke Williams from injured reserve.
Retirements
- Veteran offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski announced his retirement after 10 seasons. Drafted 48th overall in 2011, Wisniewski spent time with the Raiders, Jaguars, Eagles, Chiefs (twice) and Steelers; he won a Super Bowl ring with both the Eagles (LII) and Chiefs (LIV).