Bills camp observations: Josh Allen on that new mustache ... and his status for the preseason opener (2024)

PITTSFORD – And now for the news all Buffalo Bills fans were waiting for once they saw quarterback Josh Allen hit the practice field at St. John Fisher University on Wednesday morning for the 11th practice of training camp:

What’s up with the mustache?

“Whatever my center (Connor McGovern) asks me to do, I’m going to try and do,” Allen said. “Him and (left guard) Dave Edwards were going mustache only and they asked me to join them, so I did.”

That item of personal grooming out of the way, Allen covered multiple topics during his weekly media briefing – chiefly his availability for Saturday’s preseason lid-lifter against the Chicago Bears at Highmark Stadium.

Allen has not played in the Bills’ first preseason game since 2019 (there was no preseason in 2020).

“I don’t feel it makes a difference for me at this point of my career,” he said. “To get things rolling would be nice, but I understand making sure we’re being healthy and protective.”

Working with a new center in McGovern and several new receivers, Allen could rationalize one or two series against the Bears as a soft landing to get some work. The flip side is that the Bills are getting plenty of business done at practice.

Allen ran 37 plays of 11-on-11 on Wednesday.

Before practice, offensive coordinator Joe Brady was asked what he has liked about Allen’s camp.

“I can go on and on,” Brady said. “I love his mindset, his work ethic, his attention to detail with everything. That’s not to say it’s anything different than in the past, but we have a lot of new guys, so his communication with the offensive line and the wide receivers and staying after practice to make sure they’re seeing things the same way – you take for granted when you’re playing with guys for a certain amount of time and being able to just look at each other and understand what that means. Just seeing him take the bull by the horns, it’s been a lot of fun.”

Here are other notes and observations from a practice that had 88 snaps of 11-on-11:

Attendance report

Did not practice: Defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (groin, third missed practice), running back Ty Johnson (right hamstring, seventh), offensive tackle Travis Clayton (right shoulder, sixth), receivers Chase Claypool (toe, eighth) and Justin Shorter (knee, second), safeties Mike Edwards (hamstring, seventh) and Cole Bishop (shoulder, fifth) and linebackers Nicholas Morrow (groin, fourth) and Edefuan Ulofoshio (rib, third).

Jones was new to the injury report after sitting out Monday for a veteran rest day. He is listed as day-to-day. Defensive end Casey Toohill (groin) was present for stretching and is also day-to-day.

Left tackle Dion Dawkins was excused for a personal matter.

Returned to practice: Receiver Andy Isabella, who was unable to finish Monday’s practice, wore a sleeve on his left calf and practiced Wednesday.

Unofficial depth chart

The Bills released a depth chart as required by the NFL office entering a team’s first preseason game. Four official comments about the unofficial depth chart:

1. No rookies allowed: The projected first team doesn’t include any rookies. Second-round receiver Keon Coleman, Bishop (also a second-round pick) and third-round defensive tackle DeWayne Carter are listed with the second team.

2. Receiver rundown: Claypool’s toe injury sent him tumbling to the fourth line of the depth chart. The Bills listed KJ Hamler as the second-team slot behind Khalil Shakir and Marques Valdes-Scantling as a second-teamer behind Curtis Samuel. Mack Hollins is the third receiver on the first line of the depth chart.

3. Safety situation: Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin are listed as the first-team safeties, followed by Bishop/Cam Lewis and Kareem Jackson/Edwards on the next two lines. Jackson saw time as a second-team safety Wednesday.

4. Return game: The Bills listed four punt and kick returners apiece. In order on punts: Hamler, Isabella, Daequan Hardy and Lawrence Keys III. On kickoffs: Hamler, Hardy, Ty Johnson and Darrynton Evans.

Reviewing Allen

Reviewing the five possessions Allen worked in 11-on-11:

First possession (seven snaps): Allen was 3 of 4, including another long gain to tight end Dalton Kincaid down the right seam.

Second possession (10 snaps): Allen was 7 of 8, including two passes apiece to Kincaid and Valdes-Scantling. On Kincaid’s first catch, rookie running back Ray Davis did well in picking up blitzing linebacker Terrel Bernard. Hollins caught a touchdown.

Third possession (nine snaps): Allen was 3 of 4, but it was clunky. He was intercepted by cornerback Rasul Douglas, and two plays were aborted for sacks. Carter/Bernard stuffed a rush by James Cook, and Milano had a stop on Cook for lost yardage.

Fourth possession (four snaps): Ugh. Allen was 0 of 4 – incompletion to tight end Dawson Knox, an inaccurate pass that Coleman had to break up to negate a Rapp interception, a throw behind Knox and a kind-of throwaway.

Fifth possession (seven snaps): Allen was 2 of 5 during a tight red zone period (all snaps inside the 11). He threw touchdowns to Shakir and Knox. Cook ran for a touchdown. Allen’s last throw to Coleman in the end zone was broken up by nickel Taron Johnson.

“Really good work,” Allen said. “The cliché – iron sharpens iron. We’re still trying to work on things and figure out what we can and can’t do, and this is the time to do it right now.”

Lovely celebration

Rookie cornerback Keni-H Lovely ended practice by breaking up a Shane Buechele pass intended for receiver Bryan Thompson in the end zone.

“I knew it was the last play of practice, so I used my technique that they’ve been teaching me and tried to stay as square as possible and understand if it was coming at me, I had to be ready to make a play,” Lovely said.

Lovely, an undrafted rookie from Western Michigan, was mobbed by his defensive teammates after making the play.

“That was a good feeling to have everybody celebrating with me,” he said. “I just loved the energy.”

Et cetera

Kicker Tyler Bass was 4 of 6 on field goals – good from 33, 36, 40 and 50 yards and no good from 44 and 52 yards. … Backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky had segments 3-of-3 and 5-of-5 passing. … Douglas and safety Terrell Burgess had interceptions. Burgess’ takeaway came after receiver Xavier Johnson almost made a diving catch, but the football deflected into the air. … During his tight red zone drive, Trubisky threw a touchdown to Hamler (who had an earlier drop).

Next

The Bills hold their final open practice of the week at 9:45 a.m. Thursday.