2023 has been a season of highs and lows for Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. While the supremely talented QB is capable of making every play on the field, he has struggled a bit so far this season and is one of the main reasons why the team has looked less like themselves at times.
As they turn their attention to the second half of the season, they face a tough Cincinnati Bengals team on Sunday Night Football. With the big matchup looming this weekend, could the Bills have to do so without having their starting QB?
Latest Injury Update on Josh Allen
The Bills are currently 5-3 and find themselves looking up at the 6-2 Miami Dolphins in the race for the AFC East. While the Bills are just one game behind their division rivals, it has not been smooth sailing for them thus far.
Despite a big win against the Dolphins in Week 4, the Bills have found themselves in tighter games than many had thought, even losing some very winnable games along the way.
Allen banged up his non-throwing shoulder against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, and the effects are still lingering. The injury was sustained on Thursday Night Football, giving Allen three extra days of rest to prepare for the following week. However, with today being the first practice day of the week, Allen was a limited participant.
Sean McDermott says QB Josh Allen will be limited at practice today with his right shoulder, but it's not a setback, just "where he is"
— katherine fitzgerald (@kfitz134) November 1, 2023
There is a bit of gamesmanship when it comes to injuries in the NFL, and although Allen may very well play on Sunday against the Bengals, if he isn’t going to be able to, we may not really know the truth of the matter until the week goes on.
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While head coach Sean McDermott advised that Allen would be limited initially, those around the team have stated that Allen was not on the field during the open portion of practice.
Despite Sean McDermott saying QB Josh Allen would be limited at Wednesday’s practice due to a shoulder injury, Allen was not on the field in any capacity during the media viewing portion.
We’ll see after practice if Allen made it out on the field at all.
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) November 1, 2023
Either way, the injury is worth monitoring as the Bills are an entirely different team without Allen under center, and with this being an AFC matchup with massive playoff implications on the line, the Bills really cannot afford to lose any more ground with a potential Allen absence.
Is Allen Expected To Miss Time?
The feeling right now is that no one is too worried about Allen and his availability. He briefly exited the game on Thursday night due to the injury after being seen working on it and favoring it a little bit. However, he was able to come right back in and finish the game off strong to get the win.
But, just like anything else, it is worth watching as this injury could linger and continue to affect Allen as the season goes on.
Allen is known for his running skills, and with the fact that he is a big-bodied guy, he is unafraid to lower his shoulder when needed. One would think that this injury would change that approach a bit — or at least give the dynamic QB pause before using it.
Buffalo Bills Schedule Ahead
The Bills have an interesting month ahead. They have the talent to line up and beat anybody in front of them, but they have also shown the ability to be beaten as well. The next month of the season for them will tell a lot about them, and it all starts with the Bengals on Sunday night.
Following that Sunday night matchup, the Bills schedule includes back-to-back home games against the Denver Broncos and New York Jets, followed by back-to-back tough road tests against the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
A lot can be earned over the next month, and in order for them to be able to get the most out of this stretch, they will need their star QB to be healthy and ready to go.
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