Bills turn offense over to rookie QB; Elbow idles Big Ben
Josh Allen has the big arm. He has the size. And, now, he has the opportunity to take over as Buffalo’s starting quarterback.
Bills coach Sean McDer- mott said Wednesday the rookie will make his first career start on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Allen replaces second-year pro Nathan Peterman, who struggled badly in a 47-3 blowout loss to the Balti- more Ravens in Week 1. Peterman threw for 24 yards and two interceptions before being replaced by Allen in the second half.
McDermott declined to elaborate on his thought process behind the decision, instead saying it was “the right move” for his team more than 10 times.
The move is a jarring and significant change for Buffalo, which planned on bringing along the raw passer at a calculated and methodical rate before inserting him into the lineup. Chosen seventh overall this spring, Allen has ideal physical tools but has been considered a developmen- tal prospect at the position.
The Bills, however, were forced into making a change following one of the worst losses in franchise history.
“I’ve got game experience and now I’m just starting a game,” Allen said. “I’m just looking to do my job, try and be 1/11th of this team and this offense, and just help this team in any way possi- ble to win football games.”
Allen got a taste of regular-season action Sunday against Baltimore, entering the game when it was well out of reach in the third quar- ter. He showed some flashes while enduring his share of growing pains, completing 6 of 15 passes for 74 yards while being sacked three times.
Steelers: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hopes his balky right elbow will be good to go Sunday against Kansas City. The 36-year- old says he banged his elbow on Pittsburgh’s next-to-last offensive snap during Sunday’s ugly tie in Cleveland. Roethlisberger fumbled on the following play after getting hit by Browns linebacker Genard Avery.
Roethlisberger declined to say whether he had an MRI exam on the elbow.
Second-year quarterback Josh Dobbs will run the firstteam offense if Roethlisberger cannot practice.
Jaguars: Running back Leonard Fournette missed practice because of a strained right hamstring. Fournette tweaked it in the first half of last week’s season-opening win at the Giants. The fourth pick in the 2017 draft ran nine times for 41 yards before leaving the game.
Coach Doug Marrone says the plan is for Fournette to rest a few days before test- ing his injured hamstring Friday. The Jaguars host the Patriots on Sunday.
Packers: Coach Mike McCarthy said quarterback Aaron Rodgers is day to day with a knee injury, and the two-time MVP will be given the whole week to get ready for Sunday’s game against Minnesota. Rodgers did not practice, instead staying at Lambeau Field to rehab.
Seahawks: Wide receiver Doug Baldwin will likely be out the next couple of games because of an MCL injury in his right knee suffered in the season-opening loss to Denver, coach Pete Carroll said.