The grass at Highmark Stadium has become a topic in its own right, but the Bills aren’t losing sleep over it.
During Buffalo’s preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers, the new Kentucky bluegrass at the club’s $2.2 billion stadium took a beating. The New York Times reported that the surface was left with major divots along the sidelines, and one anonymous player didn’t exactly sugarcoat the mess, calling it “ass right now.” Allen, DJ Moore, Dion Dawkins, and Spencer Brown even spent time stomping down the chunks of displaced sod.
Still, Buffalo’s stance hasn’t changed. The organization is sticking with natural grass despite the criticism from fans and the obvious rough edges of a brand-new playing surface.
Joe Brady brushed off the complaints and made it clear his attention is elsewhere. WGR 550 insider Sal Capaccio reported Brady’s comments: “I'm way more concerned about the product we are putting on the field than the field conditions.
We have to ensure that the product on the field is where it needs to be, and everything else will take care of itself.” Dorian Williams and business operations president Pete Guelli also backed the grass, saying natural turf is safer than artificial turf and that the root system should strengthen with time.
Brady’s priorities are on offense, not optics. That was part of the reasoning behind holding Josh Allen out of the Week 2 preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. Speaking to the Associated Press, Brady said Allen’s work in the joint practices had already shown he was in midseason form.
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Bills May Face An Unpopular Decision On A Local Fan Favorite
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Andreessen brings a different kind of pressure to the conversation because he is a local Buffalo player and a fan favorite, which makes his situation especially easy to follow around Western New York. Since arriving as an undrafted free agent in 2024, he has had to fight for every bit of ground, and the final preseason game could matter a lot for his chances, particularly with special teams work in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Ja'Mori Maclin Just Made Buffalo's Final WR Decision Much Tougher
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Joe Brady has also taken notice of the work Maclin put in during the offseason, even while dealing with injuries, and that matters in a camp battle where every practice rep can tilt the evaluation. The Bills still have decisions to make at receiver, but Maclins performance made the picture a lot less straightforward than it looked before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Face Growing New Stadium Backlash From Frustrated PSL Holders
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Still, the issue has left a subset of PSL holders frustrated enough to keep pushing back, even as the Bills try to manage expectations and smooth things over ahead of the buildings opening. With the architect confirming the obstructions were intentional, the dispute has shifted from whether the views are real to how the team and its fans move forward from here. [Read more 🡒]