By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Bills will wrap their exhibition season against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday at New Era Field and you can expect to see a lot of third-string quarterback Tyree Jackson.
Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said on Tuesday that the undrafted rookie quarterback is the expected starter for his team’s fourth and final preseason outing against the Vikes.
“We’re still having conversations about that, but more than likely,” McDermott said.
The move is less-than-surprising. Backups usually take the bulk of reps in this yearly contest, so Josh Allen not playing seems right. Second-string QB Matt Barkley, playing against mostly backups, has been Buffalo’s top performing signal caller this summer as well, so McDermott & Co. have seen enough of him, probably.
Jackson, who was ESPN’s top-rated player on offense not drafted at the 2019 NFL draft, has his work cut out for him on Thursday. He’s likely not going to land on the team’s roster, but could be fighting for a spot on the team’s practice squad.
Jackson has struggled mightily despite playing against backups, as he’s 6-for-24 passing this preseason, with 140 passing yards and an interception.
Starting Jackson also likely signals that the Bills will play few, if any, of their starting playing on Thursday as well.