For a franchise desperate to break its playoff road curse, the timing couldn’t be worse. In a few hours, the Bills face the Jaguars at EverBank Stadium, but Josh Allen’s final injury update has just arrived. Amid searching for their first playoff road victory in the Allen-Sean McDermott era, the franchise has received an unsettling announcement raising questions about how it might affect his aggressive playing style.

“QB Josh Allen is dealing with an old bone issue in his foot but is at no further risk of reinjury,” posted NFL Insider’s Ian Rapoport, via X. “He’s ready to roll.”

Allen injured his right foot against the Cleveland Browns in Week 16. Trying to get out of pressure, he was tackled near the goal line. Things started to look serious against the Eagles in Week 17, when he was seen limping. The quarterback had an X-ray, but the head coach revealed it to be nothing more than soreness. The silver lining to this is that there is currently no risk of further injury.

“My understanding is that foot injury is as good as it’s been in some time,” Rapoport said on “NFL GameDay.” “He aggravated an old bone issue on the side of his foot. It is a pain tolerance issue. Most importantly, no risk of further injury for Josh Allen playing on that foot.”

In Week 18, McDermott benched him after the first snap. While benching him out completely would have also been an option, the QB played just one snap to maintain his streak, just like last year. Presently, Allen has started 139 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NFL. After the snap, though, his rest was given more priority than his NFL record.

While Rapoport did provide some relief by saying the chances of “reinjury” are minimal, it may still not be enough. It has been known that the reigning MVP will play against the Jags. However, his play style would be under a microscope given the chances of exposure for the frequent rusher. Allen is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the league. His 14 rushing TDs rank third in the league this year.

Allen is also seventh for being sacked this season, receiving the hit a record 40 times. This is another example of him getting roughed up physically. For Allen, this is perhaps an unwanted career high after he was sacked a record 38 times last season.

The quarterback clearly prefers the physical game, but that could become a double-edged sword for him in the playoffs. While the foot injury is still not critical enough to bench him, Bills fans will certainly be holding their breath. While Allen’s injury update will keep the Bills on edge, the HC seems to be under pressure as they hope to break the playoff road victory curse.

Sean McDermott feels the pressure before the Wild Card Round

Sean McDermott has a 7-7 playoff record with the Bills since joining the franchise in 2017. He even took them back to the postseason after a 17-year drought. But when it comes to road games in the playoffs, he is 0-4. The HC will surely head into EverBank Stadium with the hopes of making it 1-4. ESPN’s Rex Ryan has his take on the situation.

“I see the pressure is on Sean McDermott,” said Rex Ryan on the NFL Postseason Countdown, via NFL on ESPN on X. “Josh Allen has performed at an extremely high-level in every playoff game. The unit that hasn’t is the Bills’ defense. The defense has given over 30 points in every one of those games. So, I think it’s on Sean McDermott. He’s got to get a road victory, and that’s something that a Josh Allen-Sean McDermott team hasn’t done before.”

Pressure is surely mounting on McDermott. One of those road losses came from the Jaguars in 2017 where they lost 3-10.

The lack of road wins is only partly the reason for him feeling the pressure. There are ongoing rumors of the head coach getting fired if he fails to win the Super Bowl. Having an elite quarterback like Josh Allen, who has been at the top of his game for years, and not winning a Super Bowl feels unreal. The franchise has been consistent in the AFC East, but it does not cut it for the HC anymore. That being said, not everyone feels the same way. Joe Buscaglia on The Buffalo Beat told fans that there’s a “99.9% chance Sean McDermott firing is not happening.”

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McDermott will look to be careful if the Bills want to have a serious run in January. The franchise could be shorthanded, but they need to bring it all. Allen’s shot at the Jaguars comes Sunday in Jacksonville, where the Bills aim to flip their history. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET in a Wild Card clash that could define Buffalo’s playoff identity.