Josh Allen Returns After Frightening Injury, Leads Bills to 30-10 Win Over Jets
Quarterback left with a nose injury in the first quarter but returned in the second; Buffalo improved to 2-0 as James Cook scored a 44-yard touchdown
Josh Allen left briefly with a head and nose injury in the first quarter but returned to lead the Buffalo Bills to a 30-10 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Allen, the 2024 NFL MVP, dove forward on a designed run from shotgun, faked a handoff and appeared to strike his head against an opponent’s knee. He got to his feet, removed his helmet and walked off the field, prompting concern from broadcasters and the Bills sideline staff. Minutes later, CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson said Allen was bleeding from his nose and was being treated by team doctors, who placed cotton in his nostril to control the bleeding. He returned to the field to start the second quarter.
Mitchell Trubisky briefly took over at quarterback while Allen was evaluated. Buffalo led 10-0 when Allen left, and the Bills extended their lead early in the second quarter with another scoring drive capped by a field goal. Later in the second quarter, running back James Cook broke free for a 44-yard touchdown run that helped put the game out of reach.
Allen completed 14 of 25 passes for 148 yards and added 59 rushing yards. He was sacked once. Buffalo’s balanced attack and defense limited the Jets to 10 points over the afternoon, allowing the Bills to finish with a comfortable margin of victory.
James Cook’s long touchdown was the game’s biggest play, and Buffalo’s special teams and defense contributed to field position advantages throughout the contest. The win moved the Bills to 2-0 to start the regular season.
The game marked Allen’s return to the field after the medical stoppage in the first quarter and featured limited contact in the moments following his re-entry as team staff monitored his condition. Coaches and team medical personnel did not provide immediate postgame statements beyond confirming Allen’s return and participation for the remainder of the game.
Buffalo’s offense combined the passing and rushing game to control the clock and the scoreboard, while the defense held the Jets to a single touchdown. The Bills will carry momentum from the win into their next matchup as they seek to build on an early-season undefeated start. The Jets will look to regroup after the loss and address the defensive breakdowns that led to big plays in the second quarter.