Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs miss out in the Bills’ preseason opener, Damar Hamlin’s status uncertain
The Colts will start rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson
PITTSFORD, NY (WIVB) – The Bills begin the preseason at home Saturday, but fans won’t get a chance to see at least two of the team’s star players in uniform. Quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs have been ruled out, coach Sean McDermott said Thursday, and the Bills have not yet decided whether safety Damar Hamlin will play.
The remaining Buffalo starters will play for about a quarter, McDermott said, before the Bills held their final training camp practice at St. John Fisher University. “Maybe one or two others won’t,” he added.
Allen is expected to play sometime during the preseason, McDermott said. The Bills’ second preseason game is August 19 in Pittsburgh. Allen played one series last preseason and led the Bills in a touchdown drive early in the second exhibition. Diggs was only used in the second pre-season game in 2022.
Hamlin fully participated in training camp practice and is on schedule to play in preseason, McDermott said. If active at Highmark Stadium on Saturday, it will be Hamlin’s first game since suffering cardiac arrest and collapsing on the field during a game in Cincinnati in January.
“I feel like we’re on the right track and heading in a good direction,” McDermott said. “We will continue to do it day by day. Similar to the other players I mentioned with injuries, all of this affects game time and planning. That’s why we try to be as up to date as possible in communication with our coaches and in this case with Damar. So I’ve been very impressed with the way he’s been behaving so far. But we continue to work on his rhythm.”
Defensive tackle Ed Oliver returned to practice Thursday after missing two days with back pain. Defensive back Cam Lewis (groin), running back Damien Harris (knee) and fullback Reggie Gilliam (groin) are left out. Star pass rusher Von Miller (knee) and special teamer Tyler Matakevich (calf) remain on the list of physically incapable players. Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (shoulder) has not practiced in pads since he was removed from the PUP list earlier this week.
The Indianapolis Colts will field rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson in Saturday’s season opener in Buffalo, coach Shane Steichen announced Thursday.
Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the April draft, has spent the past week mostly working with the starters, sharing insights into the raw talent that has intrigued the team.
Since Richardson only started one collegiate season in Florida, it was unclear how soon the Colts would bring the 21-year-old into action.
Richardson fought veteran Gardner Minshew for first place on the depth chart, but Steichen already knows what Minshew can do, having both worked together in Philadelphia for the past two seasons. Steichen said he wanted to see what Richardson could do with the Colts’ starters on game day.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB roster in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. Born in western New York, he has covered the Bills, Sabers, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in the area for publications such as The Associated Press, The Buffalo News and Niagara Gazette since 2005. Read more about his work here.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
