Buffalo Bills: Week 1 starting quarterback needs to rest Thursday

Whoever is named the Buffalo Bills starting quarterback for Week 1 should be allowed to rest this Thursday in the preseason finale.

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott is set to meet with the media later this afternoon. He could name a Week 1 starting quarterback as he will surely be asked about it right away.

There is also the possibility he wants to see what the quarterbacks do this Thursday in the preseason finale. I hope that isn’t the case.

Bills fans saw AJ McCarron get knocked out of the game against the Browns. Then came Josh Allen’s head bouncing off the turf against the Bengals. Whoever McDermott wants to start Week 1 needs to sit out Thursday’s game to remain healthy.

Injury is a part of football. But the risk only increases in the fourth preseason game when opposing defenses will be made up of hungry players looking to fill some of the final roster spots. That could lead to reckless play and people getting hurt.

Along with that, the Bills offensive line is clearly not where it needs to be. It almost got Allen hurt and did get McCarron hurt, although it is fair to note that Myles Garrett is nearly impossible to block. His dominance led to McCarron leaving the game against the Browns.

McDermott may claim that he still needs some time to decide. However, time is running out. He will have to make a decision soon so the offense can get full-time reps with the starting quarterback.

This was a point brought up during Sunday’s game by the announcers. It is hard for the line and the offense as a whole to keep switching between quarterbacks and gain any rhythm in the preseason, let alone when the noise and pressure goes up in the regular season.

Whoever is named the starter can still get reps in practice and has been doing just that all summer. I just see zero reason whatsoever to put any Week 1 starters on the field during the final preseason game. It creates an unnecessary risk that outweighs the benefits of five or ten extra reps.