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Observations: Little separation in Bills' backup quarterback race after preseason opener

The Buffalo Bills’ backup quarterback race remains to close to call after one preseason game.

That was one of the bigger takeaways from the Bills’ 34-25 exhibition loss to the New York Giants at Highmark Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

As a Kids Day crowd sweated through a real-feel temperature of 89 degrees at kickoff, the Bills' offense, led first by quarterback Mitch Trubisky, didn’t give them much to cheer about on its first two series, gaining just one first down in the first quarter.

Buffalo Bills vs New York Giants (copy)

Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is locked in a tight battle with Mike White to be Josh Allen's backup. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News

The second quarter got off to a better start, though, as Trubisky led a six-play, 68-yard touchdown drive. He completed all three of his passes on the drive, starting with a 19-yard connection to fullback Reggie Gilliam that was followed by a 12-yard completion to wide receiver Joshua Palmer.

The drive ended with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Trubisky to tight end Dawson Knox, who was wide open in the left flat.

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Trubisky, playing the first half, finished 9 of 13 for 138 yards, one touchdown and a 129.6 passer rating.

Trubisky’s longest completion covered 58 yards and went to wide receiver Tyrell Shavers (two catches, 70 yards) with 4 seconds left in the second quarter, setting up a field goal.

Trubisky has been battling Mike White in training camp for the No. 2 quarterback job behind starter Josh Allen. White entered the game at the start of the third quarter and nearly threw an interception on his first pass attempt.

White’s first four passes were all incomplete, although at least two of them could be classified as drops by his intended receivers.

White bounced back from that tough start, however, finishing 8 of 13 for 112 yards with two scores and no interceptions. He averaged 8.6 yards per attempt and had a 128.8 quarterback rating.

White rebounded by finding wide receiver K.J. Hamler open behind the Giants’ defense for a 39-yard touchdown pass with 7:11 remaining in the third quarter, giving the Bills a 17-16 lead.

He threw a second touchdown pass with 11:35 left in the game, this one a 7-yarder to running back Darrynton Evans, and the ensuing two-point conversion completion to Laviska Shenault Jr. gave the Bills a 25-24 lead.

The race to be Allen's backup will continue at least through the second preseason game next Sunday at Chicago.

Other observations:

2. Sean McDermott stayed true to his word

The Bills’ coach said that outside of Allen, most of his starters would see action, and that was the case. The first-team offense and defense all played at least the first quarter, with a few exceptions.

Middle linebacker Terrel Bernard did not play. Bernard missed time during training camp with a hamstring injury, although he’s been back on the field recently. The safety duo of Taylor Rapp and Cole Bishop also sat out Saturday's game. Rapp is dealing with a knee injury; Bishop a quadriceps injury.

Right tackle Spencer Brown was the only starting offensive lineman not to take the field. Brown only recently returned to practice after a back injury kept him out at the start of training camp.

Veteran receiver Curtis Samuel and rookie receiver Kaden Prather, both dealing with injured hamstrings, sat out.

3. Ray Davis delivers

Starting in place of James Cook, who suited up but didn't play, Davis had a modest offensive game, finishing with four carries for 7 yards. The highlight for Davis came in the second quarter, when he converted an extra point following Knox’s touchdown.

Davis got that opportunity because the Bills were without kicker Tyler Bass, who missed the game because of pelvic soreness. On Friday, the Bills signed kicker Caden Davis, who made his debut Saturday. Davis, however, got the opportunity to kick the Bills' first extra point of the afternoon.

Was it a gimmick? Yes, but seeing if Ray Davis could actually serve as an emergency kicker in a regular-season game isn’t the worst idea.

As for Cook, he took part in pregame warmups but sat out the game as expected. Cook, of course, missed the past four practices as he staged a “hold-in” during training camp as part of negotiations for a contract extension.

Ty Johnson led the Bills on Saturday with three carries for 26 yards.

4. The new-look kicking game

Bass is expected back in time for the regular season – the team wouldn’t be giving Ray Davis kicks in the preseason if the coaching staff thought otherwise – but until he is, Caden Davis converted a 24-yard field goal and made his only extra point. One of his kickoffs went for a touchback, and the other four were returned for a combined 91 yards.

Punter Brad Robbins, another newcomer, had a solid debut for the Bills, with six punts for an average of 52.8 yards He placed three of his punts inside the 20-yard line.

5. Jaxson Dart made a strong first impression

Giants coach Brian Daboll, the St. Francis High School graduate, had to like what he saw from Dart, the team’s prized first-round quarterback. Dart finished 12 of 19 for 154 yards and one touchdown, and he led the team with three carries for 24 yards. Daboll is under pressure to win in New York as he enters his fourth season, and the best way to extend his career there would be for Dart to continue to show promise.

Old friend Devin Singletary rushed twice for 3 yards for the Giants.

6. Frank Gore Jr. had a solid showing

Gore rushed five times for 21 yards and caught five passes for 49 yards. He accounted for 30 yards on the Bills’ go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Gore had a potential 1-yard touchdown catch with 36 seconds remaining reversed on video review. Officials ruled on the field that Gore had scored, but video replay showed his knee touching down at the 1-yard line for no gain before the ball crossed the goal line.

Gore, who spent his rookie season on the practice squad, likely needs an injury to one of the Bills' other running backsto have a real shot at the 53-man roster, but he is putting out good tape for the rest of the NFL with showings like the one he had Saturday.

7. Joey Bosa had a promising debut

After going through a lengthy solo workout on the field before Saturday's game, there was some question as to whether the veteran edge rusher would play. Bosa answered on the team’s first defensive series, part of a defensive line that also included Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones at tackle and Greg Rousseau at the opposite edge.

Bosa put together a few strong rushes against Giants quarterback Russell Wilson on the first drive, including on a third-down play in which Oliver batted down a Wilson pass, holding New York to a field goal. Although Bosa did not finish with any stats, he flashed the kind of pass-rush potential the Bills will be counting on.

8. Taron Johnson visited the injury tent

Nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, one of the league’s best players at his position, left the game with 3:28 remaining in the first quarter. Johnson was slow to get up after making a tackle in the flat on Giants tight end Greg Dulcich. Johnson’s helmet made contact with Dulcich’s right thigh on the tackle. Johnson got up, then took a knee and was tended to by trainers. He left the field without assistance and headed into the sideline medical tent, emerging a couple minutes later. The Bills later announced that Johnson was checked for a concussion and cleared to return to the game, though he ultimately never did. It was likely that Johnson’s day was close to done before he got hurt.

Linebacker Keonta Jenkins, who saw action with the second team Saturday, also briefly left the game with a hand laceration but returned. Jenkins led the Bills with six tackles.

In the third quarter, cornerback Daequan Hardy left with a shoulder injury that required an X-ray. He was announced as doubtful to return.

9. Costly miscues

Rookie defensive back Jordan Hancock thought he made a big play with a little more than 4 minutes left in the third quarter when he intercepted Giants quarterback Jameis Winston on an overthrown ball to the middle of the field – but the play was negated by an offside call on rookie edge rusher Landon Jackson.

With 2:35 left in the game, center Jacob Bayer's snap sailed over the head of Bills quarterback Shane Buechele, and the fumble was recovered by New York edge rusher Trace Ford at the Buffalo 14-yard line. Three plays later, Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito found running back Jonathan Ward for a 4-yard touchdown pass to extend the Giants' lead.

10. Sitting it out

The Bills held eight players out of uniform for Saturday’s game because of injuries. The list included Bass, Rapp, center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (calf), wide receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle), cornerback Maxwell Hairston (knee), linebacker Shaq Thompson (hamstring), offensive tackle Tylan Grable (concussion) and offensive lineman Alec Anderson (knee).

Additionally, linebacker Baylon Spector (calf), cleared waivers and reverted to the team’s injured reserve list.

Photos: Buffalo Bills lose to New York Giants in preseason opener

Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football

Buffalo Bills linebacker Joe Andreessen (44) reaches for a fumble of New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84) during the first half of an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football

Buffalo Bills defensive back Tre'Davious White (27) tackles New York Giants receiver Zach Pascal (83) during the first half of an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football

Buffalo Bills edge rusher Michael Hoecht (55) pressures New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) during the first half of an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football

Buffalo Bills defender Taron Johnson (7) gets hurt tackeling New York Giants receiver Montrell Washington (80) during the first half of an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football

Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) scores a touchdown on a reception against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football

Buffalo Bills defensive back Te'Cory Couch (33) deflects a pass intended for New York Giants receiver Montrell Washington (80) during the first half of an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football

Buffalo Bills kicker Ray Davis (22) makes an extra point after a Dawson Knox touchdown against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football

Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) is congratulated on a touchdown against New York Giants during the first half of an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott gestures to an official against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football

Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins (73) with dice wooven in to his hair after playing against the New York Giants during the second half of an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football

Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore Jr. (20) fights for yards on a run against the New York Giants during the second half of an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football

Buffalo Bills quarterback Mike White (14) throws under pressure against the New York Giants during the second half of an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football

Buffalo Bills special teams player Jimmy Ciarlo (35) tackles New York Giants kick returner Dante Miller (25) during the second half of an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football

Buffalo Bills running back Darrynton Evans (21) celebrates a touchdown against the New York Giants during the second half of an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III looks on from the bench against the New York Giants during the second half of an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Buffalo Bills New York Giants Preseason Football

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen greets flag football athletes after halftime against the New York Giants during an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News