Allen agreed to a restructured contract with the Bills on Monday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
What it means:
Buffalo created close to $32 million in cap space by restructuring the contracts of Allen and Von Miller. Allen accounted for just over $21 million of that cap space by converting $26.4 million of his 2023 salary into a signing bonus. The quarterback -- who turns 27 in May -- is hoping this move will help the Bills fortify the roster around him after consistently falling short in the playoffs in recent years. Allen's expected to enter the 2023 season fully healthy after playing through a lingering UCL injury in his elbow in 2022.
Allen said Monday he isn't expected to require offseason elbow surgery, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
What it means:
Allen played through a lingering ulnar collateral ligament injury in his right elbow down the stretch of the 2022 season, including Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Bengals in the AFC divisional round, but it looks like the issue isn't expected to cause any offseason complications. The Bills currently anticipate rest and recovery being enough to get Allen back to full strength for the 2023 campaign, and there's not yet been any indication that the star signal-caller is in danger of missing any amount of offseason activities. Assuming all recovery proceeds on track, Allen will once again come off the board as one of the premier fantasy options at the quarterback position next season.
Allen completed 25 of 42 passes for 264 yards and an interception in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Bengals in the AFC divisional round. He also rushed eight times for 26 yards and a touchdown.
What it means:
Allen never found a passing rhythm amid snowy conditions in Buffalo. In fact, Sunday marked just the second time this season he failed to pass for a touchdown, with the other occasion being the Bills' 20-17 loss to the Jets in Week 9. Although he salvaged some production with his score on a quarterback sneak, Allen's campaign comes to a close in the AFC divisional round for the second straight year. Despite missing one game this season, Allen's numbers of 4,283 passing yards and 35 touchdowns versus 14 interceptions, as well as 762 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground, were strikingly similar to those from his 2021 campaign. The 26-year-old figures to remain one of the NFL's elite signal callers next season.
Allen completed 23 of 39 passes for 352 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in Sunday's 34-31 win over the Dolphins in the wild-card round. He also rushed four times for 20 yards but was sacked seven times and had a fumble returned for a touchdown.
What it means:
Allen had a few long completions prior to opening the scoring with a six-yard bullet to Dawson Knox. In the second quarter, however, Allen threw a pair of interceptions, helping Miami get back in the game. He then had a fumbled returned for a touchdown on his first drive of the second half. Despite those mistakes, Allen rallied to throw scores on consecutive series to end the third quarter, finding Cole Beasley from six yards and Gabe Davis from 23. With three touchdowns and three turnovers, it certainly wasn't Allen's best performance, but it was enough to help the Bills advance to the AFC divisional round next weekend.
Allen completed 19 of 31 passes for 254 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 35-23 win over the Patriots. He added nine rushing attempts for 16 yards.
What it means:
Allen's four-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Knox put the Bills up 14-7 early in the second quarter, but he was intercepted at New England's three-yard line in the final minute of the first half to prevent Buffalo from taking a lead into the locker room. The star quarterback bounced back with a 42-yard touchdown pass to John Brown in the third quarter and a 49-yarder to Stefon Diggs in the fourth, improving his TD:INT to 35:14. Allen added seven rushing touchdowns in 16 games, finishing two short of his career high in both passing and rushing scores. Allen's productive campaign helped the Bills secure the No. 2 seed in the AFC and a home playoff game against the Dolphins in the wild-card round.
Allen (ankle/elbow) was a full participant in Friday's practice and doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
What it means:
Even though Allen was a limited participant in Thursday's session, the Bills never seemed to have much concern about his ability to play in a Week 18 game in which Buffalo can clinch home-field advantage for the postseason with a win plus a Chiefs loss to the Raiders. Allen will have his full complement of weapons available, as none of the 12 skill-position players on the Bills' 53-man roster will enter the weekend with injury designations.