Don’t Expect Josh Allen Against The Bucs On Saturday
August 18th, 2025
Joe sort of enjoyed last night’s 38-0 preseason clobbering of the Bills by the Bears.
It put a little perspective on the Bucs fans outraged by Tampa Bay’s 17-14 win at Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Preseason is largely meaningless, but certain aspects of it can’t be ignored.
For example, Bills fans are melting down about how their overall depth didn’t stack up to Chicago’s. Bills head coach Sean McDermott rested his starters after what was considered a successful joint practice against the Bears on Friday.
The Bucs’ performance in Pittsburgh’s can be nitpicked endlessly, but Joe can’t be part of a freakout as players show rust, rookies make mistakes and guys who will be driving limousines and teaching math next month look like weak football players. Yeah, left tackle Charlie Heck allowed a pressure. … Breathe, people.
The Bills were horrible last night. Brutal. Anyone changing their prediction for the Bills because of it?
Bills quarterback Josh Allen is not expected to play Saturday in Tampa against the Bucs. Allen has sat out the majority of presason games in his career.
McDermott prefers a safety-first philosophy for his quarterback. Last year, Allen played one preseason series — in Week 1 of the preseason.
Preseason this year has meant Bucs injuries to Rachaad White, Jalen McMillan, Christian Izien and rookie safety J.J. Roberts. Anthony Nelson also got hurt at some point. And the practice monster has claimed rookies David Walker, Benjamin Morrison and Tez Johnson, who has returned. Antoine Winfield, Jr. also was a mysterious practice casualty.
Joe’s ready to bubble wrap the Bucs starters and get to Week 1.
August 18th, 2025 at 6:33 am
Oh we’ll still have players go down even when bubble wrapped. It’s a Buccaneer thing.
August 18th, 2025 at 6:54 am
Roberts is an UDFA trying to make the team, can’t bubble wrap him. Time to take the wrap off Morrison. Hammy be damned time to test it. If he can’t practice, or play the last preseason game, PUP list him, and move on. I don’t know how bad his hammy is, or if the Bucs are being overly cautious. The truth is, football is a tough sport. We need players who can fight trough injuries, and take the field. Morrison has missed his last year of college ball, and can’t make it through his first camp. Bow up, show up, or find another job.
August 18th, 2025 at 7:13 am
Agreed Joe.
August 18th, 2025 at 7:29 am
I love the preseason as it’s a welcome diversion from watching Barney Miller and The Jefferson reruns. But I gotta admit though – I held my breath every time Bucky touched the ball this past Saturday night.
August 18th, 2025 at 7:41 am
“Driving limousines and teaching math”??
Maybe driving limousines and I agree with being delivery drivers working in warehouses and those personalities may be selling some cell phones. But to teach math you actually have to be good at math. It’s a rare football player that could teach math… especially after missing all those classes practicing football.
Okay, so maybe John Urschel was overqualified.
Agree with BucU… If we bubble wrap them for practice or games, they’ll get hurt walking into the parking lot tripping over a parking block. Strange injuries at home? Bit by a brown recluse or something. It’s definitely a Buc thing. I’m glad the Saints will suck this year but they still put a voodoo curse on us a while back. LOL
August 18th, 2025 at 8:06 am
Great post, Joe. Fully agree. I don’t want us to play Mike or Baker this game. Started watching the Hard Knocks/Bills this weekend. I think the Bills really want to give their fans a win in the current stadium before next season when they are in the new one. I also just realized that Josh has been on the Bills for 7 years. Our odds for the Super Bowl are much higher. Go Bucs!
August 18th, 2025 at 8:09 am
Better they go down now then later I suppose LOL
August 18th, 2025 at 8:13 am
I don’t see how bubble wrapping veterans in preseason will shield them from injuries in the regular season.
It’s a brutal sport and injuries are a part of the game. The Bucs secondary was hit bad which derailed their playoff hopes.
The football gods will have their way. Rather have injuries early on. Late season injuries derail championship postseason aspirations.
August 18th, 2025 at 8:39 am
“ready to bubble wrap….”
I have an idea to make preseason games watchable. Actually put the players in bubble wrap, and then have them play. Just picture Vea bearing down on an opponent like a giant plastic snowball. Or some poor corner bouncing / careening off of Evans in an outmatched fight for the ball. This would turn unwatchable into pay per view.
August 18th, 2025 at 8:47 am
This team is cursed. PlYers suffer season ending injuries during walk throughs.
August 18th, 2025 at 9:07 am
I hope our players arent reading all the preseason hype about how “good we are going to be”. Still not sure why we think our OLine is one of the best in the league. Wirtz is a stud. Barton had an “ ok” year but still green. Same with Mauch and Bredenson. Just OK. Goedecke was missed last year because his backup underperformed.
August 18th, 2025 at 9:10 am
We should let Trask start the game with the starting oline.
Let’s bury the QB2 dilemma.
If Trask can’t throw a touchdown pass then is clear he is going to the practice squad.
Good luck Kyle show us what you have learned these past 4 years.
August 18th, 2025 at 9:21 am
A Math teacher interested in playing pro ball would be rarer than a blue moon. I agree on the injuries. Better to have Buc Luck early than late in the season.
August 18th, 2025 at 9:25 am
Way too many non contact injuries. Bucs’ humongous medical and training are a monumental failure. Why can’t Glazers see that?
August 18th, 2025 at 9:43 am
I would like to see the starting oline back out there along with josh williams and owen wright
defensively, braswell needs to play the entire game imo…
GO BUCS!!!!
August 18th, 2025 at 9:50 am
Every time a football player steps on to the field there is a chance for an injury to occur! Fact!!! Whether it’s practice, a pre season game, or an in season game!!!! Fact!!! That’s why teams carry 53 active players and a practice team of 16 or 17 too!
August 18th, 2025 at 10:33 am
I disagree with Bowles on this one. Our starters could be “rusty” against Atlanta. I am more worried about the Jags, though. The Bills did look awful.
August 18th, 2025 at 10:38 am
I think the “teaching math” comment is related to a fan favorite undrafted player from the first season of Hard Knocks. He was a high school math teacher that got an open tryout for the Ravens and got invited to camp
August 18th, 2025 at 11:05 am
Are we going to see, against the Bills, at least a few minutes of Bker throwing to our newest wide receiver. What I saw of our first round draft pick last Saturday looked impressive.
August 18th, 2025 at 11:13 am
If I were calling the shots I would not play any starters in the last preseason game. But what do I know?
August 18th, 2025 at 11:31 am
BAs Red Pen. Do you mean what do you know besides “Dean is soft”? And that it appears Morrison may be a pansy.
August 18th, 2025 at 1:18 pm
Good idea.Let Bridgewater play the whole game with the scrubs.
August 18th, 2025 at 2:23 pm
Bubblewrap should of been out already, no more starters on the field!
August 18th, 2025 at 4:58 pm
White, Izien, and McMillan are not hurt! Pre season games are meaningless and players can’t get injured while playing them, enough with that nonsense, all is fine, just ask them