The Bills have built their offense around Josh Allen for so long that it’s easy to overlook the one spot that could turn into a real problem fast: backup quarterback.
Allen has been one of the NFL’s most durable stars since his second season, missing only a few games as a rookie because of an elbow injury. That kind of availability has helped Buffalo avoid having to seriously confront life without him.
But the concern never really disappears, especially with how physical Allen plays. He puts everything on the line for the Bills, and while that’s part of what makes him special, it also leaves fans holding their breath every time he takes a hit.
That’s why Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports took a hard look at backup quarterback situations around the league, and the Bills did not come out well. In his ranking of NFL contenders, Buffalo landed last, with Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele listed behind Josh Allen.
" Allen, who has been in the NFL since 2018, has starting experience (19 total starts), but hasn't started a game since Week 13 of the 2022 season while a member of the Houston Texans. In that game, he completed just 51.3% of his passes, tossed two interceptions, and recorded two fumbles (one lost). For his career, the 30-year-old is 7-12 as a starter, while completing 62.5% of his passes with an 82.1 passer rating." said Sullivan.
Buffalo has cycled through backup quarterbacks behind Josh Allen for years, with Kyle Allen, Matt Barkley, Mitchell Trubisky, and Case Keenum all spending time in the room. Trubisky and Kyle Allen each had two separate stints with the Bills, but the current setup still doesn’t inspire much confidence if Josh Allen ever has to miss time.
The bigger issue is simple: the offense would look completely different with Kyle Allen taking snaps. The ceiling drops, the playbook shrinks, and the Bills would be asking a lot from a quarterback who has not been a dependable backup over the course of his career.
It’s not a topic that comes up often because Josh Allen has been so good and so available. But it’s still a real roster issue, and if Buffalo ever has to play without him, the answer at quarterback would not be reassuring.
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