New Players and Potential in the Buffalo Bills Preseason
The Buffalo Bills took the field for their first preseason game last Saturday against the New York Giants, falling 34-25 in a loss that left many fans wondering if the team remains an unstoppable force. With star quarterback Josh Allen on the sidelines and not participating, backup Mitch Trubisky stepped in as the starting quarterback. This transition allowed Trubisky to get some reps under pressure and gave fans a glimpse of his capabilities. The showdown exposed the team's depth and highlighted areas for improvement. For every rookie, it marked their first taste of NFL action, and many shone under the spotlight.
The battle for backup QB remains one to watch, as both Trubisky and Mike White rotated in and saw significant playing time on Saturday, posting similar stats. Trubisky began after Allen sat out, completing 9/13 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown before White entered the game. Comparably, White completed 8/13 passes for 112 yards and also threw two touchdowns. Both are vying to be Allen’s primary backup, and we can expect them to play again next week against the Chicago Bears, as the competition continues.
Tons of players stood out on offense as well. For example, after the quarterbacks switched, Bills second-year receiver Tyrell Shavers saw some time, grabbing two receptions, including a deep 58-yard catch from Trubisky. While Shavers is not currently listed as one of the team's receivers, his continued strong performance could change that. Also on the offensive front, new addition WR Joshua Palmer made two solid receptions during the offensive transitions. Meanwhile, the Bills' defense had a day, with many rookies rotating in and making plays. Defensive tackle Deone Walker showed serious potential, recording three quarterback pressures against the Giants' Jaxson Dart, totaling 15 defensive snaps. DT T.J. Sanders also stood out with one QB pressure and a quarterback hit. The rest of the team's new defensive additions are also looking pretty strong and pose a serious threat this season.
The Bills are set to play their next preseason game away, against the Chicago Bears, next Sunday, at 8 pm EST. We can expect both Trubisky and White to get some serious playing time while Allen remains sidelined. It is also expected that the rookies will continue to get in multiple reps, building up their performances for the regular season. The game will be another important opportunity for the team to fine-tune their lineup and solidify their roster before the season officially kicks off.
