ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen's second rushing touchdown on Sunday was a leaping effort into the end zone over Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker that put the team up by two scores in the fourth quarter, but the landing appeared to leave Allen with a left hand injury.
After leaping over Baker, Allen put his hands around the ball to brace for impact as defender Justin Jones tried to push the quarterback away to keep him from falling into the end zone. As a result, Allen landed with his left hand (the one he didn't use to throw) around and underneath the ball.
“On the first rushing touchdown, I kind of dropped my shoulder, knowing it was a corner,” Allen said. “The second time, I knew it was Budda, and Budda's a good player and he hits you hard, so I decided to go up and pass, even though I probably can't make a living doing that, but here we are.”
The Bills rallied from a 17-3 deficit with less than three minutes remaining in the first half to win 34-28.
Athletic trainers taped Allen's left hand and wrist on the sideline after the goal, and he played the rest of the game. He said afterward that his hand was “fine.” Asked if he would get X-rays, Allen said, “Well, probably, yeah, I don't know yet.” After the game and his news conference, Allen briefly went into the stadium's X-ray room. His hand was not taped in the postgame locker room.
“We'll find out, I'm not really sure,” Allen said. “I'm not a doctor, but I guess it occurred to me.”
The Bills will have a quick turnaround with a trip to the Miami Dolphins for “Thursday Night Football” in Week 2. Coach Sean McDermott said in his postgame news conference that he did not have enough information to provide an update on any of the team's injuries.
“Yeah, I always worry when someone gets hurt,” McDermott said. “In this case, for sure, Josh. I'm hoping in the next few hours I'll know more. Maybe even when I walk back down the hall, so I always worry.”
Cornerback Taron Johnson left the game on the opening drive with a forearm injury. Defensive back Cam Lewis replaced Johnson and made several big plays, leaving backup cornerback Ja'Marcus Ingram with a larger role in the team's passing package, including defending the Cardinals' final incomplete pass on fourth down to end the game.
Allen bounced back from a less-than-ideal start with a sack and a fumble on the opening drive, completing 18 of 23 passes (78.3%) for 232 yards and two touchdowns. He also had nine carries for 39 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
He became the fifth player in NFL history with multiple passing and rushing touchdowns in a season opener, and the first since Troy Aikman in 1998. It was Allen's fourth career game with multiple touchdowns through the air and on the ground, tying Steve Young for the most such games in NFL history.
“I always try to keep my eyes on [Allen]”McDermott said. “We were talking in my locker room afterward and somebody said, 'Hey, did Josh have this guy on him on this play?' And I said, 'I just keep an eye on him most of the time to make sure he's okay and he doesn't get hit late or whatever.'”
