Bills news, notes: 'I’m getting older,' Josh Allen says as he aims to stop taking big hits
ORCHARD PARK - Josh Allen turns 27 next month, and he was joking around on Tuesday about how time has flown by since the Buffalo Bills picked him in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
“It just happens quick; this is going into my sixth year,” Allen said following the Bills’ second day of optional OTA workouts. “It doesn’t feel like it’s been that long. I feel like I was sitting here for my first press conference coming in on that Friday after the draft talking to you guys. So, it happens quick.”
Hearing this, Micah Hyde, who turned 32 on New Years Eve 2022, just rolled his eyes. “Josh is getting a little order? How old is Josh?” he said with a smirk.
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Three months have passed since that disappointing January day at Highmark Stadium when the Bills’ season came crashing to an end with the 27-10 playoff loss to Cincinnati. It culminated a crazy season for Allen and the Bills, one where they won 14 of 18 games, but along the way faced so much adversity, everything from cataclysmic weather to the near death of Damar Hamlin.
And no matter what age the players were, Allen said it took a toll on everyone.
“This last season was pretty draining throughout, physically, emotionally, mentally,” Allen said. “There were a lot of moments, really unprecedented times, where not many teams have ever had to face the adversity that we faced last year and I’m so proud of how we handled things.
“So just trying to reboot and I think at this point in my life, I’ve never been as focused or locked in on football as I am right now. I’m very excited and looking forward to getting here with the guys, building that team camaraderie.”
Heading into his sixth NFL season, the star quarterback said, “I feel like I’m learning something new each and every year.” And two things he learned from last year were that his turnover rate was too high, and that he needs to stop exposing himself to big hits.
“There’s a lot of times last year, just looking back at film, that I was careless with the football, careless with my body and at the end of the day, availability is the best ability,” he said. “I know this sounds crazy but I’m getting older. I can’t continue to do this. Over the course of my career I’m going to have to learn to adapt and change.
“I’ve always had the mindset of I’ve been a football player first and a quarterback second, and at some point that’s going to have to switch. I want to be the smartest quarterback with the football in my hands. I don’t want to put the ball in harm’s way because I know how detrimental that is for a team with those interceptions and the fumbles.”
Here are some of the other topics of interest that were discussed:
Josh Allen says his throwing elbow is fine
Allen admitted at the end of the season that his elbow was more problematic than he let on in his weekly press conferences. Obviously he was able to play through it, but it likely limited him in some areas and that was one of the reasons why the Bills offense struggled a bit in the final month plus.
However, Allen did not need surgery and he said all is well as the Bills get back to work in preparation for 2023.
“I haven’t seen anybody,” he said, meaning specialists. “It feels really good. Threw a couple times and no issues so just getting back on track within this first phase and a little bit in the second phase.
“Not a whole lot of throwing here in the building but trying to find other outlets to be able to get guys moving around, getting the ball in the air. Stuff we are still working around and that’s just the rules we have to work with. It is what it is but we will find ways to still get some work done.”
More: Damar Hamlin back on the field with Bills teammates
Stefon Diggs not at the optional workouts
Coach Sean McDermott estimated about 90% of the players under contract have attended the first two workouts, but wide receiver Stefon Diggs was not there. Again, it’s optional so it’s no big deal, but after some of his cryptic social media activity in the offseason, the question had to be raised regarding whether there’s any tension between him and the team.
Allen quickly rejected that.
“Yeah, absolutely,” he said when he was asked if everything is OK. “Stef’s gonna Stef. I love the guy. He is one of my favorite people on this planet. He is so fiery, so competitive, he wants the ball in his hands 24/7 and I’m never gonna not like a guy like that. He wants what’s best for the team. I know he’s not here right now and I wish he was here, but OTAs are a little bit of a different beast when it comes to all that stuff. But I’m just looking forward to getting back with him and working on things and continuing to get better because he is the best receiver in the league.”
Von Miller says his knee rehab is on schedule
Miller tore his ACL on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit, so his availability for the start of the season is still a big question mark. Remember, Tre’Davious White incurred the same injury on Thanksgiving 2021 and it took him a full year to get back into a game - oddly, the same game Miller was hurt in.
“My knee’s good,” Miller said. “I feel like for me being able to golf for about a month now it feels like it’s downhill for me. Being able to walk around normally, go up and down stairs, walk around on a golf course and not really think about it. I was walking around doing stuff before but still subconsciously thinking I’ve gotta make sure my gait is right, gotta make sure I’m not favoring it.”
Miller had this same injury in 2013 when he was 24 and playing for the Broncos. Now he’s 34, but he feels like he’s still in great shape, and he also knows how to rehab from this surgery, so that should help quicken his return.
“I guess before it was a lot of uncertainty,” he said. “I’d look down at my leg and think how am I going to be a football player again. Now you just know. This is part of the process. So I guess the second time around I’m not stressing over it as much. I just go out there and try to lift as much as I can, rehab as much as I can and I know when you put the work in, you’ll get the results.”
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A.J. Klein, Shaq Lawson latest members of the reunion tour
Monday, the Bills announced the re-signing of linebacker A.J. Klein to a one-year contract, and Tuesday, they announced defensive lineman Shaq Lawson has also re-signed with the team. They join safety Jordan Poyer, defensive lineman Jordan Phillips, and offensive lineman David Quessenberry as unrestricted free agents who came back to Buffalo.
Klein was with the Bills in 2020 and 2021, then signed with Chicago as a free agent and rejoined the Bills on Nov. 17 after the Bears released him. He served as a backup for Tremaine Edmunds, and while Edmunds is no longer here, that doesn’t mean Klein will be the frontrunner to start.
He will be part of a competition that will also include Terrel Bernard, Tyrel Dodson and Baylon Spector. Also, the Bills may add a linebacker in the draft, and there is speculation they could do that as early as the first round.
“It presents an opportunity for someone to step in and show us what they’ve got,” McDermott said. “(Bernard) did get some valuable snaps last year, albeit not a ton on defense. We know T-Dod a little bit more. We’ll be aligned in terms of what we’re looking for, and they have total clarity on what’s expected in the job and I think that’ll start as it started yesterday. I’m excited about that and I think those guys are as well.”
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This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Josh Allen says he has to be more careful: 'I’m getting older'
