Josh Allen to wear clear visor after breaking nose, expected to play in Week 3
Bills quarterback debuted a clear visor at practice after snapping his nose in Sunday’s win over the Jets; swelling has decreased and he is expected to start on Thursday night.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is expected to wear a clear visor in the team’s Week 3 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, a precaution after he injured his nose in Sunday’s 30-10 win over the New York Jets.
Allen, who debuted the visor at Tuesday’s practice, said the team was “probably” going to use it in the game as he gets used to the new equipment. He sustained the injury late in the first quarter at MetLife Stadium when he fell on his face and briefly left the field with a nose that began to bleed heavily. He missed two plays before returning and finished the outing completing 14 of 25 passes for 148 yards before the starters were pulled with the game out of reach.
Team officials and coaches indicated the swelling diminished in the days after the injury and that Allen is expected to be ready to play. Coach Sean McDermott downplayed any long-term concern, joking about the appearance of Allen’s nose, while teammates also offered lighthearted banter about his bruised look. Allen himself said he could still breathe after the hit and made a quip comparing himself to established pass rushers when teammates ribbed him about the swelling.
The quarterback briefly stuffed his nose with cotton on the sideline before returning to play, according to video and team accounts. Allen has worn visors in practice at times during his career, but the upcoming game would be his first wearing a clear visor in an NFL regular-season game.
Allen enters Week 3 with a streak of 107 consecutive starts, the longest active run among NFL quarterbacks, and has led Buffalo to a 2-0 start. His early-season play includes a dramatic Week 1 comeback against the Baltimore Ravens, in which he threw for more than 250 yards and three fourth-quarter touchdowns to rally the Bills to a 41-40 win.
The Bills and Dolphins are scheduled to meet on Thursday Night Football, with Allen listed as the expected starter. Medical staff will continue to monitor his condition through pregame routines, but as of Tuesday the team projected no change to Allen’s availability beyond the equipment modification.
The decision to add a clear visor reflects a common protective adjustment for players returning from facial injuries. Visors are used both to shield healing areas and to reduce the risk of further contact trauma. The Bills’ medical and equipment staff determined the clear shield would offer additional protection while allowing Allen to maintain visibility and play comfortably.
Allen’s availability will remain a point of attention for Buffalo fans and the league’s injury reports ahead of Thursday’s kickoff, but teammates, coaches and the player himself conveyed confidence that he will take the field with the new visor in place.