ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Before Josh Allen could run out of bounds to escape cleanly, Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker YaYa Diaby tackled Allen near his feet and caused him to tumble to the ground for a 2-yard loss and land on his right throwing shoulder in the process.
Allen quickly popped up to his feet after the first-down play with 11:51 remaining in the second quarter and then moved around his arm as he walked back toward the huddle.
On the next play, Allen kept the ball himself and ran up the middle for a 13-yard touchdown. Allen's health and availability is, naturally, of upmost importance, something that has led to him rushing less.
There is also a focus on the 27-year-old taking fewer hits in his sixth season. In a 24-18 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night, there was another brief injury scare with his ongoing right shoulder injury, but he remained in the game and didn't miss a snap. «Took a little, little fall on it and felt a little funky about it, but you know, just trying to keep it warm and keep it loose,» Allen said after the game. «I'll be sore for a couple of days, but we'll be fine.» While Allen was in the medical tent, coach Sean McDermott said that he was told Allen was not available, leading the Bills to prepare to turn to backup Kyle Allen.