It's time for the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins to take the gloves off on Thursday Night Football. But Josh Allen is putting a glove on.
Allen wore a white glove and tape on his injured left non-throwing hand during warmups at Hard Rock Stadium before the AFC East rivals faced off.
Allen landed on his left hand while plunging to the ground on a hurdling touchdown run in the fourth quarter of the Bills' 34-28 comeback victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. His hand was taped by medical trainers and he didn't miss a snap.
“As you guys are aware, Josh was injured in the fourth quarter there,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Monday. “They looked at his hand, he went back in and functioned, and then he was looked at after the game again, and he's been cleared to practice today and cleared to play in the game.”
Allen was listed as a full practice participant all week leading up to Thursday's game.
No. Allen is right-handed.
Miami's Tua Tagovailoa and Atlanta's Michael Penix Jr. are the only two left-handed active quarterbacks in the NFL.
Technically, Bills quarterback Josh Allen no longer has a left hand injury. He’s nevertheless wearing a glove on his left hand in advance of Thursday night’s game at Miami.
His second and third fingers are also taped together, over the glove.
Allen was on the Monday and Tuesday injury report as a full practice participant, with a left hand injury. By Wednesday, Allen was off the report — and he had no designation for the game.
The injury report says, “This is fine.” The glove, with the taped fingers, sends a different message.
Once the game starts, it makes sense to see whether he takes a hit to the hand and, if so, what the aftermath might be.
The Importance of the Non-Throwing Hand
While Allen's injury might seem trivial to casual fans, quarterbacks who have experienced similar injuries know the importance of a healthy non-throwing hand. The left hand plays a crucial role in a quarterback's mechanics, as multiple veterans explained to The Athletic.
The Snap
“Your off-hand is still important because you’ve got to have it to stop the ball on the snap, securing the ball when you’re dropping back, handing the ball off,” said Jake Plummer, a former quarterback who played through a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left hand. “The snaps got to stay the same, injury or not.”
Connor McGovern, Allen’s center, is acutely aware of the importance of his snaps. “I have to really make sure I hit that top hand and not be off-target at all. I need to make sure that left hand’s protected,” McGovern said.
Handoffs and Ball Security
The left hand is also vital for ball security, especially when handing off to the running back. “You have to find comfort in what you’re doing and make sure there was no pain so you can even play,” said Warren Moon, who dislocated the ring and pinky fingers on his left hand. “When I handed off to my right, I would have two hands on the ball until just before I gave the ball to the running back instead of just one hand.”
Archie Manning, who played with a broken left forearm, also echoed the importance of ball security. “The biggest problems were making sure I could get the snap and handing off,” he said.
Simms, who played with a broken hand, said the left hand is also crucial for receiving handoffs. “The left hand is just there to cup it on a direct snap,” he said. “The hardest thing was the running back, on handoffs to the right, might grab your left hand and pull it. Oh, my God, that hurt.”
Running the Ball
Perhaps the biggest concern for Bills fans is how Allen’s injury will affect his running style. Allen is known for his ability to escape pressure and make plays with his legs, but it’s something he might have to curtail for a while.
“Will it affect him throwing the football? Probably not. But it will make him think when he runs,” said Phil Simms. “He’ll just need to be smart. Be careful, going down. Don’t slide on your left cheek; slide on your right.”
“He needs to be much more careful when he runs the ball like he does and being more aware of hitting the ground or going out of bounds instead of hurdling somebody,” added Moon. “I don’t think he can play with that reckless abandon the way he’s used to playing.”
Manning agreed, saying, “I absolutely had to run with the ball under my right arm. I couldn’t hand off with my left hand. I was kind of handing off right-handed, which was hard. I had to make sure I had a good grip on the ball because I was putting the back of my hand instead of my palm into the running back’s stomach.”
Allen's Perspective
Allen has said he will continue to play with the same intensity and recklessness that has made him one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the NFL. “Josh Allen is a very instinctual player. He’s not going to be thinking about it. Everybody else will be talking about it. He’s going to play ball,” said Plummer.
However, the short week between games and the potential for further injury might make him reconsider his approach. “He also doesn’t want to suffer any further injury,” said Moon. “You admire the fact that he’s trying to get in the end zone, but you don’t like the end result sometimes, jeopardizing next week’s game.”
The Impact on the Bills
The Bills have a lot to consider as they prepare to face the Dolphins. They can choose to run their offense primarily out of shotgun, which would minimize Allen’s exposure to injury. They can also adjust their playcalling to limit Allen’s running, relying more on his arm and the running backs.
However, it’s likely that Allen will continue to be the same aggressive, dual-threat quarterback the Bills have come to rely on. Whether he can do so without further injury remains to be seen.
The Bottom Line
Allen’s left hand injury is not a major concern, but it could have an impact on his performance against the Dolphins. It will be interesting to see how he adapts his playing style and how the Bills adjust their game plan to protect their star quarterback.
What's Next?
The Bills and Dolphins will face off on Thursday Night Football, with the spotlight firmly on Josh Allen. The game will be a test of Allen’s toughness and resilience, and it could have a major impact on the AFC East race.
It's important to note that these are just observations and opinions. Allen’s injury could turn out to be a non-issue, or it could become a major problem. Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure: the Bills and Dolphins game will be a must-watch.
