McDermott yet to make Bills quarterback decision

FAN Editor
NFL: Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills
FILE PHOTO: Aug 9, 2018; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott during the first half against the Carolina Panthers at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

August 28, 2018

One day after the team’s third preseason game, Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Monday he has yet to make a decision on who will be the team’s starting quarterback.

“I expected that,” McDermott said about the QB battle continuing into the preseason’s fourth week. “No further quarterback developments from last night at this point. … We’re still coming off the game and going through and processing all of that information right now.

“… There’s been good competition there and all three have played at a high level.”

McDermott also indicated he hasn’t decided who will start Thursday’s preseason finale, or whether any starters will play alongside whichever quarterback starts.

“We’re still going through that,” McDermott said. ” want to get through this practice first and then certainly make sure we have our ducks in a row for this game and then move forward.”

Rookie Josh Allen, the No. 7 overall pick, flashed through the first two weeks of the preseason and earned the start in Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, but he failed to maintain his momentum. Allen finished 6 of 12 for 34 yards and took five sacks before leaving the game after his head was slammed to the turf on a hit by Carlos Dunlap late in the second quarter.

Allen was cleared to return without a concussion, but ceded to Nathan Peterman, who went 16 of 21 for 200 yards and a touchdown while taking one sack over the remainder of the game. On eight drives started by Allen, the Bills’ offense failed to score and had just four first downs while losing more yardage on sacks (39) than it gained through the air.

Despite Allen’s struggles, McDermott called the experience “very valuable” for the rookie.

“Everything from the week leading up to the game and then his experience in the game, all of that he can draw from at some point in his career as we move ahead here,” McDermott said. “There are some things he learned and plays that he would like back, and some things he did well also.”

Veteran AJ McCarron, who joined the team in free agency, did not play Sunday as he recovers from a shoulder injury that was initially thought to be a broken collarbone. McDermott told reporters Monday that McCarron will again participate in practice this week, saying his ability to throw has “improved dramatically” in recent days. It remains unclear, however, if McCarron will play in Thursday’s finale.

Through three games, Peterman has posted the best numbers of the three signal-callers, going 33 of 41 for 431 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, good for a 124.7 rating. Allen is 24 of 44 for 210 yards and two touchdowns (82.6 rating), while McCarron is 10 of 16 for 128 yards (87.5 rating).

NFL Network reported Monday morning that the job would “not just be handed” to Allen, and that the team is comfortable starting Peterman or McCarron if it decides Allen is not ready for the role.

–Field Level Media

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