Josh Allen Ready for Broncos Clash Despite Injury Concerns
Buffalo Bills fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Quarterback Josh Allen will indeed start against the Denver Broncos in Saturday's crucial divisional round playoff game. Multiple reports confirm this news, including sources from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle and ESPN.
Full Practice Participation Signals Readiness
Allen practiced fully on both Wednesday and Thursday this week. The team lists him with no injury designation for the Saturday matchup. This development follows earlier concerns when Allen appeared on the injury report with knee, foot, and right finger issues.
He participated only in a limited capacity during Tuesday's walk-through session. However, his return to full practice over the next two days shows significant improvement. The Bills organization clearly trusts this positive trend.
Allen himself expressed confidence about his condition. "I feel good," the quarterback stated on Tuesday. "Honestly, I feel better than I have the last few weeks."
Remarkable Durability Streak Continues
Saturday's game will mark Josh Allen's 137th consecutive start for the Buffalo Bills. This impressive streak includes 122 regular-season appearances and 15 playoff games. It represents the longest active starting streak among all NFL quarterbacks currently playing.
The foot injury originally occurred during Week 16 against the Cleveland Browns. Medical staff took X-rays after that game, which returned negative results. Allen aggravated the same foot issue in Week 17 against the Philadelphia Eagles but continued playing without missing meaningful time.
His knee and right finger injuries are more recent developments. Both happened during Buffalo's wild-card victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Allen briefly entered concussion protocol after a hard first-quarter hit during that game.
Overcoming Multiple Game-Time Injuries
Later in the Jaguars game, Allen jammed his throwing hand on a follow-through motion that struck guard O'Cyrus Torrence's helmet. He also tweaked his left knee during a 2-yard touchdown run. Remarkably, none of these injuries forced him to miss a single snap during the contest.
Teammates recognize Allen's exceptional toughness. Tight end Dawson Knox offered high praise for his quarterback. "Call him Superman, like, Wolverine, whatever you want to say," Knox remarked. "I've seen him take so many crazy hits and bruises and get his knee twisted and hit his finger on a helmet. That would take most guys out, and he's dealing with multiple of those things and not even missing a play."
High-Stakes Playoff Matchup Details
The Buffalo Bills face the Denver Broncos this Saturday with a trip to the AFC Championship Game at stake. Denver enters as the top seed following an impressive 14-3 regular season under head coach Sean Payton. Meanwhile, Buffalo pursues an unusual Super Bowl path that doesn't involve facing the Kansas City Chiefs.
Game Information:
- Date: Saturday, January 17
- Time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time
- TV Broadcast: CBS
- Streaming Option: Paramount+
- Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver
Allen and the Bills offense will confront a formidable Denver defense that performs exceptionally well at home. The combination of high altitude and intense crowd noise typically presents serious challenges for visiting quarterbacks. Buffalo's margin for error remains narrow, especially considering injuries affecting their wide receiver corps. However, their most vital player will definitely be under center when the game begins.
