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SPORTS Tuesday 21 augusT 2018

Bills QB AJ McCarron getting 2nd opinion on shoulder injury

By JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP)
— The Buffalo Bills’ off-
season-long quarterback
competition is down to two
players now that AJ Mc-
Carron is seeking a second
opinion to determine the
severity of an injury to his
throwing shoulder.
Coach Sean McDermott
on Sunday declined to re-
veal many details on Mc-
Carron’s status except to
say the team is still evalu-
ating the injury after initial
tests were inconclusive.
And yet McDermott ac-
knowledged the injury will
have an immediate effect
on McCarron’s place in the
quarterback pecking order
with rookie first-round pick
Josh Allen and returning
backup Nathan Peterman Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Jamie Meder (98) tackles Buffalo Bills quarterback AJ McCarron (10) during the first half of an
still competing for the start- NFL football preseason game Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. The Bills won 19-17.
ing job. Associated Press
“Look, any time you’re not guy,” Hyde said. “You’re going 3 of 6 for 12 yards a time right now. A lot to be interceptions in the first half
on the field it’s not really going to have to cut that during four series in which learned still.” of a 54-24 loss at the Los An-
an ideal situation in that re- leg off for him not to be the Bills failed to generate Receiver Kelvin Benjamin is geles Chargers on Nov. 19.
gard,” McDermott said. “If playing.” a first down. impressed by Allen’s poise. NOTES: The Bills signed DT
healthy, then we pick up McDermott said rookie Allen replaced McCarron “I feel like he controlled the Tenny Palepoi, who was
where we left off.” third-round pick Harrison and led Buffalo on scoring huddle,” Benjamin said, cut by the team before
McCarron took several hits Phillips will take over the drives — a touchdown and before recalling a conver- the start of training camp.
and was hurt during the first starting job in Williams’ ab- two field goals — on each sation he had with Allen. He initially signed with Buf-
quarter of Buffalo’s 19-17 sence. of his three possessions. “I asked him early on, like, falo in March after spend-
preseason win at Cleve- Who starts at quarterback He finished 9 of 13 for 60 ‘Do you get nervous.’ And ing three seasons with the
land on Friday. remains the major question yards and showed poise by he was like, ‘No,’” Benjamin Chargers. ... Backup P Cory
The Bills avoided a ma- with Buffalo preparing to avoiding the pass rush and said. “I’m like, ‘Man, you’re Carter was waived/injured
jor scare on another injury host Cincinnati on Aug. 26. stepping up in the pocket better than me because after he tore a knee liga-
front. With McDermott being to hit Rod Streater for a my rookie year I was kind of ment against Cleveland.q
Defensive tackle and team cautious against rushing Al- 2-yard touchdown pass in nervous.’”
leader Kyle Williams is listed len’s development, McCar- a third-and-goal situation. Peterman took the first
week to week after the 13- ron was considered the ini- He particularly cleaned up snaps in practice Sunday
year veteran hurt his right tial front-runner for the job. his inconsistencies after go- during the portion open to
knee early in the second He is the most experienced ing 9 of 19 for 116 yards and reporters.
quarter against the Browns. quarterback on the roster a touchdown in overseeing Peterman has put up the
While the Bills practiced after spending his first four the third-stringers during best numbers of the three.
outdoors, Williams was spot- NFL seasons as Andy Dal- the entire second half of He’s completed 17 of 20
ted by The Associated Press ton’s backup in Cincinnati Buffalo’s preseason-open- attempts for 232 yards, with
walking into the weight before signing with the Bills ing 28-23 loss to Carolina. two touchdowns and inter-
room. He walked without a in free agency in March. In calling Allen’s perfor- ception.
noticeable limp but had a McCarron struggled in his mance a step in the right He was selected in the fifth-
long black wrap covering first preseason start and direction, McDermott isn’t round out of Pittsburgh last
most of his right leg. had little help from an of- ready to hand the 22-year- year and had a forgetta-
Safety Micah Hyde’s initial fensive line that had diffi- old the starting job just yet. ble rookie season. McDer-
concerns on Friday turned culty stopping the Browns’ “Let’s just manage expec- mott’s calculated gamble
to relief upon seeing Wil- pass rush. tations,” McDermott said. to bench Tyrod Taylor and
liams at the facility. He was sacked once, hit “He’s a young player, and start Peterman backfired
“That’s Kyle. He’s a tough several times and finished let’s just take it one day at after the rookie threw five