Josh Allen is coming in 2025 as a changed man. Last year, he put the league on fire with his first MVP and almost knocked the Chiefs out. During the offseason, he got married to Hailee Steinfeld. Things have changed. Yet, he still misses something. During the premiere of Hard Knocks, the QB revealed, “The only thing that I’m worried about is doing everything I can to bring a Lombardi Trophy here.” But Sean McDermott just announced a move that may not go down easily in the Bills Mafia.

If you’re a Bills fan holding a ticket to Saturday’s lone preseason home game against the Giants on August 9 and expecting to see No. 17 trot out at Highmark. Josh Allen will be in street clothes. The coach announced it with the sort of calm finality that only preseason decisions carry, “Josh won’t play. Mitch (Trubisky) will start.” And that’s that.

And before the official announcement, Train Wreck Sports’ Mike Bundt reported: “Not seeing a lot of Josh Allen at camp today, which makes sense since he’ll be sitting out the Bills preseason opener. Mitch Trubisky getting reps with the 1’s after being named the starter on Saturday against the Giants. He’s in a competition with Mike White for the backup job.”

However, Sean McDermott also revealed the game plan for the preseason opener, “The starters, the ones, will play give or take one quarter, and then it’ll flow from there.” Why This Matters? Josh Allen’s health remains the top priority, and sitting him out prevents unnecessary risk. But this is more than just bubble wrap. It’s a live-action audition for Trubisky. He’s battling Mike White for the QB2 spot, and Saturday gives him a real shot to build timing with the first-team offense, something backup QBs rarely get outside of disaster scenarios.

Back with the Bills during his second stint in 2024, Trubisky showed flashes in limited action. Most recently, in Week 18 of 2024, he went 15-for-21 for 101 yards and 1 TD while relieving Allen. White, who had a rough 2024 season stat-wise (just 3-for-11 in Buffalo’s only look), isn’t out of the race, but Trubisky getting the first-string reps is telling. But here’s the thing, sports aren’t about textbooks or regular rotations. They’re about moments.

Josh Allen trying to sync with his receiver

On the flipside, it’s early in camp. Timing’s off. And Josh Allen’s eyes are locked in, not on defenders, not on coaches, but on his WR Joshua Palmer. He wants to make it work. But not blindly. During a recent Hard Knocks video, Allen said, “The best thing that you can do between a quarterback and receiver is have that open line of communication. Understanding each other’s expectations, of when I’m thinking of releasing the ball, or where he’s expecting it to be.” That’s not just a throwaway preseason quote.

In the 2024 NFL season, Khalil Shakir emerged as the Buffalo Bills’ top wideout with 821 yards and 4 touchdowns, followed by rookie Keon Coleman (556 yards) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (448 yards). While the Bills relied on short-to-intermediate routes and high-efficiency targets, Joshua Palmer quietly posted 584 yards on just 39 catches for the Chargers, averaging a stellar 15.0 yards per reception, higher than any Bills pass-catcher.

Though Palmer had only 1 touchdown and wasn’t the primary option in L.A., his deep-threat ability stands out. If he earns Allen’s trust, he could be a difference-maker in a WR corps that lacked explosive plays in 2024. And Palmer? He’s still learning the code. The receiver also said, “Just learning his tells. Learning where he expects me to be on certain routes.” And that’s how it builds.

Slowly, uncomfortably, rep after rep, until something finally sticks. Josh Allen already knows Shakir and Coleman. But he wants to perfect his timing and rhythm with the new receiver. It matters as he wants to win the Super Bowl. That’s only way to register his name in the Bills history. This camp isn’t just about catching passes. It’s about reading Josh Allen’s mind.