Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - In the final tune up before the regular season on Saturday, the Buffalo Bills fell short on the scoreboard in a 31-26 loss to the Carolina Panthers at Highmark Stadium.
Earlier in the week, Bills head coach Sean McDermott indicated that the plan originally was for the starters to play in the final preseason game. However, due to a bevy of injuries leading up to Saturday's game, he elected to sit the starters and play a number of second- and third-string players against the Panthers.
One of the positions this preseason impacted by injury was at quarterback, as backup Mitchell Trubisky will be sidelined "multiple weeks" due to a knee injury, while third-string signal caller Shane Buechele was lost for the season with a neck injury in the preseason opener.
The last couple of weeks was a hectic one for the position, as the Bills ended up adding free agents Ben DiNucci and Anthony Brown to not only fill the voids under center behind Josh Allen, but also get some reps in exhibition play.
McDermott was pleased with his offense's performance on Saturday, especially with the play of DiNucci and Brown, who had to adjust to the offense and create a rhythm for the team throughout the week and into Saturday.
"Both quarterbacks were impressive with the short run up with practice time. I thought the coaches did a really good job with getting them functional, and I tip my cap to those guys," said McDermott following Saturday's loss. "They went in and executed, were able to run the offense, and get us in somewhat of a rhythm on multiple drives."
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Now with the preseason officially in the books, the Bills will next cut their roster down from the current 91 players to 53 come Tuesday afternoon. McDermott is certainly familiar with how tough of a process it is to cut down the roster, which may include some business decisions in the end.
"Its extremely difficult," McDermott said with the assembled media. "The relationships we are blessed to have formed with these young men, the conversations you are able to have. Whether its in the spring or at St. John Fisher for camp, or on a trip to Pittsburgh, in the off times and the gaps between the schedules and meetings. You get a chance to learn that these guys are real human beings with real lives that are trying to make it."
The Bills will now gear up for the start of the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 8 against the Arizona Cardinals at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
