1 – Why this Bills analyst is excited for the preseason opener
Just like all the Bills fans in Buffalo, former Bills safety and current Bills color commentator Mark Kelso is excited to see a few storylines develop in Buffalo's first preseason game. Kelso played safety for the Bills for the entirety of his NFL career from 1986 to 1993, and he is well known for his breakdowns of game action on Bills broadcasts.
"There's a lot of work that both of these teams need to do," said Kelso on One Bills Live Thursday afternoon. "It is interesting to see all of the young players and the effort that they expend trying to make this club."
Kelso knows what it is like to battle for your position in the NFL, as he was a 10th round selection in the 1985 NFL draft. Although Kelso was a late selection, he recently commented on the Bills first selection in the 2018 draft, Josh Allen, and his competitors at the quarterback position.
"At this point, I think the race is pretty even," he said. "It will be interesting to see what is going to happen in preseason game number one."
Kelso understands that experience will likely play a role in determining who will be the day one starter for the Bills at quarterback, but he noted that it is a Bills rookie who he is most eager to see.
"I'm interested to see Tremaine Edmunds," said Kelso. "He comes with such a great pedigree and high expectations. He is only 20-years-old, but he has some real youthful exuberance and he just loves to play the game."
As the game begins on Thursday night, many questions will be answered, and Bills fans will be able to see their team in action once again.
2 – NFL.com gives a national perspective on Bills-Panthers
As the 2018 Buffalo Bills season gets underway with a matchup against Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott's former team, the Carolina Panthers, an abundance of eyes will be on Bills first-round quarterback Josh Allen. Recently, NFL.com digital content editor Austin Knoblauch previewed the matchup between the Bills and the Panthers.
Josh Allen will be the No. 1 player to watch in every Buffalo preseason game. Coach Sean McDermott has given his big-armed QB plenty of first-team snaps, and it's clear Buffalo's season (and long-term success) relies on Allen living up to his seventh-overall pick promise.
Knoblauch is of the belief that Allen has the opportunity to impress many in preseason action, but he notes that A.J. McCarron and Nathan Peterman are not going to just hand over the keys to the starting job. Here is what he had to say about the fierce competition.
AJ McCarron, on the cusp of a potential starting job after years of red alert backup duty, and Nathan Peterman will do all they can to outshine Allen in this trifecta battle royale.
When game time comes around, Bills fans can be sure that each of the three quarterbacks will be putting their best on display in an attempt to pry the starting job away. A.J. McCarron and Nathan Peterman could possibly share first team reps according to Sean McDermott; and then Josh Allen will make his in-game debut.
3 – Panthers offensive line hit with the injury bug
Entering tonight's matchup with the Panthers, the Bills brass were already excited about the potential of their bolstered defensive line matching up in an actual game. To make things worse for the Carolina Panthers, they lost offensive guard Amini Silatolu to a torn meniscus on Tuesday morning. SIlatolu participated in 14 games with the Panthers in 2017, and he has been with the team since being drafted by them in the second round of the 2012 draft.
The Panthers also lost All-Pro right tackle Darryl Williams to injury, and NBC Sports journalist Darin Gantt had this to say on the slew of injuries.
While losing a player of Williams' caliber is always tough, they at least had a ready replacement in 2017 second-rounder Taylor Moton. Replacing Silatolu will now heighten the competition at left guard. Undrafted rookie Brendan Mahon got some work with the starters after Silatolu left, and they could use free agent Jeremiah Sirles there.
With a weakened offensive line, the Bills new-look defensive line will have a fantastic opportunity to test their will to get to opposing quarterbacks.
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