The Buffalo Bills’ quarterback carousel will once again turn to Josh Allen, provided the rookie is cleared to return to the lineup.
Coach Sean McDermott told reporters Monday that Allen will be under center for the Bills (3-7) when the team returns from its bye week for its game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 25.
“If healthy, Josh Allen will start after our bye week,” McDermott said. “He’s been throwing and making progress but we’ll take it one day at a time.”
Allen, who is the seventh overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, has been sidelined with a right elbow injury that he sustained in a 20-13 loss at Houston on Oct. 14. The 22-year-old Allen has completed 75 of 139 passes for 832 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions this season.
Matt Barkley completed 15 of 25 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns in Buffalo’s 41-10 win over the New York Jets on Sunday.
The 28-year-old Barkley has played in 12 NFL games during his career, completing 174 of 291 passes for 2,143 yards with 10 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
McDermott said Monday that the move to Allen is about getting reps for the rookie as opposed to a reflection on Barkley.
Buffalo decided to give Barkley a shot after Nathan Peterman was ineffective in last week’s 41-9 loss versus Chicago. Derek Anderson, who played in losses at Indianapolis 37-5 on Oct. 21 and to New England 25-6 on Oct. 29, is in concussion protocol.
