Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has gotten used to playing hurt in recent seasons, but could be heading into the playoffs at full health.
Allen has been playing through a nagging foot injury suffered in the team’s Week 16 win over the Cleveland Browns, one that left him visibly limping in next week’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Allen had a chance to rest in the season finale against the New York Jets, and now an insider has great news for the injury in the days before the playoffs start.
Josh Allen Improving for Playoffs
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday that Allen has made some significant improvements with his foot.
“Josh Allen’s foot is as healthy as it’s been in a while,” Rapoport shared in a post on X.
Allen underwent X-rays after the team’s win over the Browns and against after facing the Eagles, with it coming up negative both times. Allen already put off speculation about a significant injury, saying after the Browns win that he was able to play once the pain wore off.
“Just flamed up on me. Pain subsided, so we’re good,” Allen said.
The Bills face an aggressive defense when they open the playoffs on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the first time the Bills go on the road to start the postseason since Allen’s second year in the NFL in 2019. The Bills saw the New England Patriots break their five-year streak of division titles, sending the Bills to the playoffs as the No. 6 seed.
Allen is used to playing hurt, suffering a broken hand early in the 2024 season that left him hampered throughout the year. He also had a shoulder injury in 2023 that forced him to alter his throwing motion.
Josh Allen’s Harsh Self-Assessment
Allen said he was challenged this week by offensive coordinator Joe Brady to scout himself, reviewing his own game film to identify his flaws.
Allen said there were some obvious areas of improvement.
“You’re sitting there like, `God, I stink,’” Allen said, via Syracuse.com’s Matt Parrino. “It’s like, `What am I thinking here? What am I doing?’”
Parrino noted that Allen had some struggles this season, throwing four more interceptions than he did in 2024 and taking a career-high 40 sacks.
Brady said that the team struggled with pass protection at times, but also said Allen needs to improve in recognizing pressure before the snap and throwing the ball away when he doesn’t have a play.
Allen also admitted that there were times he could have taken a shorter pass, but held onto the ball too long looking deep. That was the case against the Eagles, where he took a long sack that put them out of field goal range, which ultimately led to their margin of defeat in the 14-12 loss.
“Whether it’s getting a little lazy with my feet and not taking a check down and maybe instead trying to force something downfield,” he said. “Or throwing the ball away and not take sacks and allowing us to be in field-goal range. There’s still so much room to improve.”
Bills Get Good News on Josh Allen’s Injury as Playoffs Near