Josh Allen won't be leading the Buffalo Bills on the field in their preseason opener Saturday at Highmark Stadium, but there are several storylines to watch when they host the New York Giants.
Bills Blue and Red
Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is the early favorite to be Josh Allen's backup this season. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
1. The backup quarterbacks
These four preseason games will weigh heavily in the Bills’ decision to keep Mitch Trubisky or Mike White as Josh Allen’s backup this season. Trubisky is the early favorite, in part because of his starting experience, but he has also been the better of the two quarterbacks in recent practices. The second overall pick in the 2021 draft will start against the Giants, which will give him one or two drives with the Bills’ first-team offense. White has poise and understands the system, but Trubisky’s athleticism is one reason he has the edge. We'll also see the Bills' fourth quarterback, Shane Buechele.
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2. Who will sit?
We know the long list of injured players who won’t be available for coach Sean McDermott, most notably wide receiver Khalil Shakir, safety Cole Bishop and cornerback Maxwell Hairston, but whom else will the Bills rest against the Giants? Right tackle Spencer Brown didn’t get enough full-contact practice reps to play this soon. Do they sit important veterans on defense, such as Matt Milano, Tre’Davious White, Christian Benford, Joey Bosa, Taron Johnson, Greg Rousseau and Ed Oliver? Even though McDermott plans to play his starters for a quarter, some defensive veterans are likely to watch from the sideline.
Brian Daboll, St. Francis grad and former Bills assistant, returns to Highmark Stadium one final time
Daboll will return to Highmark Stadium once more Saturday, likely for the final time, when he leads the Giants into town for the preseason opener against the Bills.
3. Rookies on patrol
The Bills’ top pick in the 2025 draft, Hairston, is still recovering from an LCL sprain, but the rest of the rookie class should see extensive playing time. Jackson Hawes, a tight end selected in the fifth round, has been arguably the most impressive first-year player in camp. On offense, they also have undrafted receiver Stephen Gosnell and sixth-round left tackle Chase Lundt, who has impressed veterans with his ability to self-correct. On defense, the Bills want to see impact plays from their rookie defensive linemen, tackles T.J. Sanders, Deone Walker and end Landon Jackson. Three others to watch: safety/nickel Jordan Hancock, cornerback Dorian Strong and undrafted linebacker Keonta Jenkins.
Kristian Wilkerson steadily rising from camp afterthought to squarely on the Bills' roster bubble
With Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel and rookie seventh-round draft pick Kaden Prather out of the lineup at the moment because of injuries, Kristian Wilkerson has seen his workload in the practice setting increase. It’s fair to expect he’ll see a lot of playing time in Saturday’s preseason opener.
4. Mixing in
How much do we see edge rusher Michael Hoecht and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, with both suspended six games to start the season? The Bills must prioritize the young players who will need to contribute during their absence – including second-year edge rusher Javon Solomon. But Hoecht and Ogunjobi also need live reps in this defense before they must be away from the team. Hoecht’s usage will also be worth watching, as he can play multiple positions on the line. He is even athletic enough to drop into coverage, though the Bills will likely play a basic scheme in these preseason games.
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