Bills HC Joe Brady explains controversial Josh Allen preseason decision

Whether any NFL starting quarterback should take a single snap during a preseason game is a topic that sparks debate among members of the football community each August. 

For example, Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers recently referred to preseason games as "not real football." It seems like first-year Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady and Bills star quarterback Josh Allen disagree with Rodgers. 

"Everybody," including Josh Allen, will play for Bills in preseason opener

Per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk, Brady shared on Thursday that "everybody that’s healthy is going to be playing out there" when the Bills host the Carolina Panthers for Buffalo's preseason opener this coming Saturday afternoon. Allen is included in the list of Buffalo players who will take the field at Highmark Stadium.

"I mean, you guys have had conversations with Josh and know how he plays. There’s only one way that he plays, right? And I think that’s a message to the whole football team," Brady explained. "… Like this is NFL football. Guys are fighting for their lives, and there’s a physicality. If you just dip your toe in, that’s when I think bad happens with that. So, if we’re out there going, we’re going." 

Brady was presumably referring to Allen's playing style, which often features the one-time regular-season Most Valuable Player taking off on carries that could spark fear in a coach on a December night, let alone on an August afternoon. Of course, one would think that Allen will be smart and won't put himself in any danger during what most view as meaningless exhibition contests. 

Brady seemed to remind his QB1 to take it easy against Carolina. 

Joe Brady shares strong reminder to Josh Allen about the preseason

"I would hope that he’s mindful of [it being the preseason], but I want him to be competitive and be Josh Allen," Brady continued. "I hope everybody else kind of embraces that same mindset — wake up and let’s go play some football."

It's unclear how many in-game snaps Allen will take between Saturday and the end of Buffalo's preseason finale versus the Steelers on Aug. 27.