Preseason game number three is typically the one in which the starters see the most playing time in preparation for the regular season opener. Head coach Sean McDermott confirmed that will be the case in his Friday press conference.

"They'll go about two quarters and some change after half," he said. "They'll be some slight variation based on the individual. But overall, they'll come out of the locker room after half for the most part. We want them to get used to that routine of going into the locker room, going through those adjustments and then coming out of the locker room and then going back to work there."

McDermott admitted that there will be more game planning this week as well than there was the week before, but it will still pale in comparison to what they normally put into a game plan in the regular season.

Allen handled game week routine well

Part of making Josh Allen the starter for Sunday's preseason game against the Bengals was to put him through the schedule of a regular season game week. Every part of the Bills week leading up to their game Sunday, mimicked a game week in the fall. So how did Allen handle it?

"The way we shape this week is for guys to get into a routine. Josh is no different. He's seen what the lifting schedule would be like, his film schedule would be like, his requirements with the media. He's handled it well to this point," said McDermott. "We still have a couple of days before the game, but it's been a good experience for him off the field in terms of getting him into what could be his routine once the season begins."

Bills will exercise caution with McCoy, Dawkins and others

LeSean McCoy has been nursing a sore groin this week. He's practiced only on a limited basis and will again be limited in Friday's practice. McDermott confirmed they will err on the side of caution come Sunday concerning McCoy's availability.

"I think there's a still a chance, but we'll have to wait and see," said McDermott. "We'll definitely be smart as we always are with any injury."

McCoy's track record and performance thus far in training camp has his head coach at ease with the decision to sit him on Sunday if it comes to that.

"It certainly makes me more comfortable knowing what he brings to the table," said McDermott. "He has shown in the three to four weeks of camp that he's off to a good start and he is in shape. You don't want to be out too long. There is something to be said for getting tackled and some of that too. That said I am going to err on the side of caution with respect to LeSean and we'll keep building him up."

Other starters who could be sitting Sunday include LT Dion Dawkins (hip) and DE Trent Murphy (groin). QB AJ McCarron is also a question mark with shoulder soreness. He has been limited in practice this week too.