Josh Allen will be on the field for the Bills’ first preseason game.
Head coach Joe Brady told reporters in his Thursday press conference that as of now, “everybody that’s healthy is going to be playing out there on Saturday.”
That includes Allen, whose style of play could inherently lead to some reluctance from his head coach to put him on the field in a game that doesn’t count. But Brady is embracing the opportunity, particularly as it’s the first game in new Highmark Stadium.
“I mean, you guys have had conversations with Josh and know how he plays. There’s only one way that he plays, right?” Brady said. “And I think that’s a message to the whole football team. … Like this is NFL football. Guys are fighting for their lives and there’s a physicality. If you just dip your toe in, that’s when I think bad happens with that. So, if we’re out there going, we’re going.
“I would hope that he’s mindful of [it being the preseason], but I want him to be competitive and be Josh Allen. I hope everybody else kind of embraces that same mindset — wake up and let’s go play some football.”
Brady did not specify how long the starters will be out there. But it stands to reason that Allen will be on the field for just a series or two.
Kickoff between the Bills and Panthers is slated for 1 p.m. ET on Saturday in Orchard Park.