Pittsford, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - With Thursday being the final training camp practice at St. John Fisher University, Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott held one last press conference with the media before the session in Rochester.
It was no surprise when McDermott told reporters that quarterback Josh Allen will not play in the first preseason game on Saturday against the New York Giants. At this point, McDermott doesn’t know if the reigning NFL MVP will play at all in the preseason.
"We’ll take it on a day-by-day, week-to-week basis, and we’ll see where it goes," McDermott said on Thursday. "I’m in constant communication with Josh, and part of it too is how he feels. But I also have to make sure I protect him the best that I can. He always wants to be out there, so I know this is not easy for him, but it’s the right thing to do."
As far as everyone else, McDermott says the starters will play, give-or-take, one quarter of action, and then it will flow from there.
With Allen not playing, it’s Mitch Trubisky starting at quarterback on Saturday. McDermott says getting reps with the ones will be very good for him.
"That’s part of the plan, and the benefit of this is we hold Josh out and keep him in a good spot. And then we get a chance to get a look at Mitch and some of the other quarterbacks (Mike White and Shane Buechele) in live game action."
McDermott says it’s probably too soon for right tackle Spencer Brown to be out there in a game. He adds safety Taylor Rapp will also not play with a knee problem.
"He’ll be out, give-or-take, a week," McDermott noted.
Wide receiver Khalil Shakir has been missing time at practice with an ankle injury. While he has been working out in a walking boot, McDermott is optimistic for his availability come the regular season.
"That’s what I’m being told. He’s dealt with this before, it just takes some time to get back," he said.
"The thing that makes me a little at ease is his rapport with Josh, and Khalil is such a professional that I don’t worry at all about his hunger to return, his ability to find ways to get himself back up to speed as quickly as possible."
Before Thursday's practice, McDermott said he expected running back James Cook to be out at practice with his teammates. But whether he was set to participate at all remained to be seen.
When the team took the field on Thursday, Cook was, once again, not out there to participate.
With Cook not practicing, it’s been more of an opportunity for Ray Davis and Ty Johnson to get some valuable reps.
"I expect every player to practice every day, but you move forward," McDermott said. "It’s an opportunity for somebody else to step up, to show us what they’ve got and the team moves forward. That’s the nature of the business.
"I have a ton of respect for [Cook] and the position he’s in right now, and it’s not an easy one. But we have to move forward as a team, and I’m sure he respects that."
As far as training camp in Rochester, McDermott feels his team had a couple good weeks of practices.
"I didn’t think we were where we needed to be at the 'Red and Blue' [practice] a week ago, and these guys have focused in and made some huge progress this past week. I very much appreciate that.
"At times, it’s a little bit sad to leave here. They’re so welcoming in all that they do to make it easy for us to come here and transition and build our team."
The Bills will break camp and have a walk-through session Friday, and then play the New York Giants on Saturday. Kickoff in Orchard Park is slated for 1 p.m.