Buffalo Bills Quarterback Josh Allen Unlikely To Suit Up In Week 18
The latest news out of Buffalo isn’t exactly the comfort food fans were hoping for: Josh Allen was absent from practice again on Thursday.
That marks back-to-back days on the sidelines for the franchise quarterback, following a Wednesday DNP. While the team confirmed that X-rays on his foot came back negative, his status for Sunday’s regular-season finale is looking shakier than a rookie cornerback on an island.
The Origin Of the Allen Injury
To understand the concern, we have to rewind the tape. This wasn’t a freak accident in practice; it’s lingering damage. Allen first “tweaked” the foot back in Week 16 against the Browns on a play that can only be described as a “self-sack.” It was awkward, it looked painful, and while he finished the game, he didn’t exactly look like the mobile juggernaut we’re used to seeing.
Then came the Eagles game. Allen, being the competitor he is, insisted the injury had “zero” impact on his performance. But the eyes don’t lie. He seemed to aggravate the issue, leading to a trip to the X-ray room. There was one play in particular, a two-point conversion attempt to Khalil Shakir, where Allen clearly rushed the throw. Why? It looked like he was trying to avoid scrambling on that bad wheel with Linebacker Jaelan Phillips bearing down on him.
Playoff Picture: Does Allen Need To Play?
Here is the reality of the situation: The Bills are essentially locked into the No. 6 seed in the AFC. Their opponent this week? The New York Jets. Does it make sense to trot Allen out there for a meaningless game on a freezing January afternoon? Absolutely not. The risk-reward ratio is completely out of whack. If Buffalo wants to make a deep run, they need #17 at 100 percent, or at least as close to it as possible.
Looking Ahead To the Postseason
The smart money says the Bills give Allen the day off. Maybe they let him take a single snap to officially get the start for the record books, but anything beyond that feels like coaching malpractice. There is simply no point in risking a setback right now.
