Josh Allen officially questionable for Bills-Vikings game

Update (3:00 p.m. EST, Friday 11/11/22): In the team’s official injury report, the Buffalo Bills listed quarterback Josh Allen as a limited practice participant on Friday, and assign him a designation of questionable to play on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

Update (1:05 p.m. EST, Friday 11/11/22): Alaina Getzenburg of ESPN reports that as media were allowed into the Buffalo Bills field house at the conclusion of the team’s practice on Friday, quarterback Josh Allen was spotted running off the field with his teammates—while wearing a practice jersey.

While he was not spotted early in practice by convened reporters (see the update below), it now looks possible that Allen was able to participate in practice on Friday, even if only in a limited capacity. We’ll know more when the team releases its final injury report this afternoon.

Update (12:00 PM ET, Friday 11/11/22): Josh Allen was not spotted on the practice field Friday in the brief period in which reporters were allowed to spectate.

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott had not ruled out Allen—for either practice or the team’s game against the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday—as of mid-morning on Friday, adding that the team was monitoring Allen’s progress hour by hour. McDermott also hinted that a less-than-favorable weather forecast for Sunday would help to determine Allen’s game-day availability.

Unless something changes behind the scenes, and it’s revealed later today that Allen was at least limited, the chances of him suiting up against Minnesota at this point seem very low.

Update (1:15 PM ET, Thursday 11/10/22): Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was not spotted at the start of his team’s practice on Thursday afternoon, a near-certain sign that he will once again be a non-participant—or, at best, limited—after also missing practice on Wednesday.

Thad Brown of WROC-TV caught a Bigfoot-esque glimpse of Allen—with his arm brace/sleeve/whatever you want to call it—after practice on Wednesday. Unless he makes enough progress to suit up on Friday, that may be all that media see of Allen this week.

Update (12:05 PM ET, Wednesday 11/9/22): Speaking with reporters before his team’s first practice of the week, Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott was vague regarding the status of quarterback Josh Allen and his elbow injury. Calling the signal-caller “day to day,” McDermott would not reveal any information about Allen’s injury, only divulging that the quarterback would not practice on Wednesday and that his status for Sunday has yet to be determined.

Update (7:30 AM ET, Wednesday 11/9/22): Ian Rapoport of NFL Network is now calling the Josh Allen injury an “elbow sprain,” indicates again that the Buffalo Bills consider it something short-term that Allen will be able to play through, and says that the team will take its customary day-to-day approach with practice reps as the team determines his availability for their Week 10 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.

Original story: Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is likely to be limited as the team closes the book on their most recent loss and turns their attention to a Week 10 matchup with the 7-1 Minnesota Vikings. That according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, who tweeted the news on Monday afternoon following a day of online speculation about the nature of Allen’s injury.

Should Allen not be able to play on Sunday, veteran backup quarterback Case Keenum will make his first start with the Bills.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott did not provide much of an update during his usual Monday afternoon press conference, stating that the injury was still under evaluation, that he’d know more within 24 hours, and could provide more of an update during his Wednesday pre-practice press conference.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen confirmed a bit later on that Allen is being evaluated for an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury, which is something that Allen has previously dealt with in his pro career.

Allen was injured on the Bills’ third-to-last play of their Week 9 loss to the New York Jets. Allen was hit on his throwing arm by blitzing Jets defensive back Bryce Hall, losing control of the ball on the play (guard Ryan Bates recovered the fumble). On the next play, a short-hopped incomplete throw on 3rd & 21, Allen was visibly shaking his arm and rubbing his throwing elbow. On 4th & 21, he rolled to his left and heaved a ball 70 yards in the air to receiver Gabe Davis, who couldn’t complete the catch and extend the game.

After the game, Allen—who had his worst game of the season by far, even before the injury—told reporters that there was some “slight pain,” but that he’d “get through it,” per Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic.

Since then, however, there had been some speculation throughout the evening on Sunday and into Monday—fueled by outlets such as Sports Injury Central—that Allen had a more serious injury to his throwing elbow than initially met the eye.

Allen injured his UCL during his rookie season in 2018, during a Week 6 road loss to the Houston Texans. He missed Buffalo’s next four starts that season, returning five weeks later (after the team’s bye) to finish out the season.

The Bills will hold their first practice before the Vikings game on Wednesday. We’ll know more about Allen’s status, and his level of practice participation, at that point.