BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Bills held several starters out of Saturday's preseason game in Pittsburgh to prevent injuries, but could not avoid losing a number of key reserves for an extended period of time.
Backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (knee), wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (neck) and tight end Quintin Morris (shoulder) each will miss multiple weeks after getting hurt in the 9-3 win, coach Sean McDermott said Monday.
Additionally, safety Damar Hamlin (hamstring), receiver Curtis Samuel (turf toe), and linebacker Baylon Spector (calf) were listed as week to week with injuries.
Hamlin had been working with the starting defense through most of training camp and preseason following injuries to veteran Mike Edwards (hamstring) and rookie Cole Bishop (shoulder). Edwards and Bishop will resume participating in walk-through sessions and individual drills during practice this week, McDermott said, along with reserve linebacker Nicholas Morrow (ankle).
Trubisky started the game in Pittsburgh after McDermott decided not to play Josh Allen because of wet field conditions. Trubisky's injury comes after third quarterback Shane Buechele hurt his neck in the preseason opener and was placed on injured reserve.
With Allen and the rest of the Bills regulars sitting out Saturday's preseason finale, recently signed Ben DiNucci will start against the Panthers at Highmark Stadium, and the Bills are exploring options to sign another quarterback to back up DiNucci.
McDermott acknowledged his concern with the number of preseason injuries, but declined to speculate on how they will affect roster construction going into Buffalo's first regular season game on Sept. 8.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.
