It was a little over a week ago that head coach Sean McDermott named Nathan Peterman his starting quarterback for the team's season opener. On Wednesday morning, Buffalo's head coach confirmed there would be a change.
"Josh will start," McDermott said. "It's the right move for our team. I don't feel a need to elaborate. We talk a lot in house about decisions and what we have to do and the right move at the right time and right now this is the right move for us.
So the rookie will be starting at quarterback for the Bills on Sunday when they host the Los Angeles Chargers in their home opener. McDermott said Allen was excited when he got the news.
McDermott said the decision was his to make, though he did have discussions with GM Brandon Beane and informed Terry and Kim Pegula of his quarterback decision.
Last week Allen replaced Peterman four minutes into the second half of the team's Week 1 game at Baltimore, after the offense struggled to move the ball.
In relief duty last week, Allen went 6-of-15 passing for 74 yards in the loss.
"It wasn't the most desirable situation, but I was going in just trying to make plays and help this offense move the ball," said Allen. "We didn't put many points on the board. It was a tough game to start out with. Fortunately, in the NFL it's just one game and one loss. We have 15 more opportunities to play well."
As the starter this week, Allen will have the benefit of taking all the first team reps in practice in preparation for the Chargers.
Right cornerback rotation to continue
Last week during practice, Phillip Gaines and Vontae Davis continued to rotate in and out at right cornerback as the two competed to determine who would earn the start. The nod ultimately went to Gaines and Davis was inactive.
This week that competition will continue heading into Sunday's home opener.
"We're going to continue to mix that," said McDermott. "You'll see both guys out there (at practice). We have confidence in both of them."
Davis hasn't played in a regular season game since October 29th of last season.
Orchard getting acclimated
Buffalo's newest defensive lineman got his first day on the practice field with his new teammates. Nate Orchard, signed on Monday, was wearing jersey number 53.
As for a potential role on Sunday, McDermott wants to see how the defensive end makes it through the week.
"We'll see. We'll take it one day at a time getting him started today and see how he acclimates to the terminology more than anything," McDermott said. "Then what we ask him to do with the game plan. I know Brandon (Beane) looks at everything and felt this was the right move for us, so we're excited to have him and get him going on board here."
Orchard may need to play a role of some kind on Sunday if Shaq Lawson's hamstring injury keeps him from practicing this week.
