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ORCHARD PARK Kelechi Osemele Jersey , N.Y. (AP) — The Bills‘ quarterback competition is still unsettled. Their defense showed signs of looking lost in giving up a touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage against Cincinnati.

And Buffalo’s patchwork offensive line is getting manhandled.

These are not encouraging signs less than two weeks before the Bills open the regular season at Baltimore.

“It’s a wake-up call for all of us,” center Ryan Groy said Monday, a day after the line was pushed around in giving up five sacks in the first half of a 26-13 preseason loss to the Bengals. “We couldn’t get anything going. Hurt ourselves pre-snap. Didn’t protect the quarterback. Did pretty much of everything on the do-not-do list.”

The level of concern was no different on defense after Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton burned Buffalo’s defense for 180 yards passing and two touchdowns on five series — including a 57-yarder to John Ross on the opening snap.

“We couldn’t stop them, man,” cornerback Tre’Davious White said. “We weren’t able to do anything yesterday. They were able to pick their spots and they were able to exploit them.”

As for quarterback, coach Sean McDermott is still not ready to name the Bills’ season-opening starter, never mind which of his three quarterbacks will start in Buffalo’s final preseason tuneup at Chicago on Thursday.

“No further quarterback developments,” he said.

Rookie first-round pick Josh Allen’s steady progress took a considerable step back against the Bengals. In his first preseason start , he completed 6 of 12 passes for 34 yards, was sacked five times for 39 yards and managed just three first downs over seven-plus series before being pulled to be evaluated for a possible concussion.

Allen was cleared to return for the start of the second half, but remained on the sideline while Nathan Peterman mopped up.

Peterman, Buffalo’s returning backup, has put up the best numbers this preseason, though he’s had just two series against an opponent’s starting defense.

As for AJ McCarron, the offseason free agent addition was cleared for practice Monday Jamaal Williams Jersey , some 10 days after being sidelined by a bruised right throwing shoulder during a 19-17 win at Cleveland.

The Bills are a work in progress at best a little over eight months after sneaking into the playoffs to end a 17-year postseason drought, which had been the longest active streak in North America’s four major professional sports.

The current struggles reflect a roster still in the midst of being overhauled entering McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane’s second seasons on the job.

Only 15 players are left with two or more years of experience in Buffalo.

Though the depth chart is not yet set, there is a chance the Bills will feature as many as seven starters with one or fewer season of NFL experience. And that includes the possibility of Allen or Peterman starting at quarterback.

Difficult as Allen’s outing was against Cincinnati, McDermott considered it a valuable learning experience for the strong-armed, yet raw quarterback in getting his first opportunity to face a starting NFL defense.

“I know the numbers didn’t really show a great performance necessarily, but then again, there’s a lot of things that go into that as well,” he said.

“I did like his poise in the pocket to an extent. I thought he got us in and out of the huddle for the most part and managed some of the highs and lows,” McDermott added. “That’s all part of playing that quarterback position and leading a football team.”

CB COMPETITION: McDermott said the starting cornerback spot opposite White is still up for grabs between veteran free agent additions Vontae Davis and Phillip Gaines. Davis, a nine-year veteran, has struggled. He slipped while attempting to cover Ross on the opening play.

SEEING YELLOW: McDermott is frustrated by the Bills being flagged 32 times for 257 yards in three preseason games. That includes 13 penalties for 125 yards against the Bengals. “It’s unacceptable,” he said.

HONORING McCAIN: The flags in front of the Bills headquarters remained at half-staff Monday in honor of Sen. John McCain, who died of a malignant brain tumor on Saturday. The team also held a moment of silence before kickoff Sunday.

INJURED: LB Julian Stanford is listed as week to week after hurting his nose against Cincinnati.

Teddy Bridgewater refused to think about the possibility of never playing football again.

Not when he was clutching his mangled left leg and screaming in pain. Not during the nearly two years of intense rehabilitation that followed.

Bridgewater made it back from a gruesome knee injury in August 2016 to throw two passes in a game late last season for the Minnesota Vikings. Still on the comeback trail, the 25-year-old quarterback is now with the New York Jets and eager for his next opportunity.

”I’m not going to give a percentage or anything,” Bridgewater said of his health during a conference call Wednesday Ricardo Allen Jersey , ”but I do believe that I’ll be able to perform at a high level.”

Speaking to reporters for the first time since signing a one-year deal with the Jets, he declined to give details about the status of his knee while simply saying, ”I’m feeling good.” Bridgewater also said he’s ”not comfortable” discussing whether he thought he’d be a full participant during organized team activities and minicamp this spring. Those conversations, he said, have to be done first with the Jets’ coaches and trainers.

”I’m very confident,” he said of regaining his form. ”I’m confident in myself, confident in the athletic training staff and the coaching staff here, that they can eventually get me back to the player that I once was. At the same time, we’re only in March and the only way to get better is to put the work in now. I’m excited about this opportunity that I have to not only be a Jet, but to work with the group of guys on this team, with the staff that’s here.

”I just can’t wait. I’m excited.”

Bridgewater was a first-round draft pick out of Louisville in 2014 and was selected to the Pro Bowl after his second season with the Vikings. But during a practice the following summer, he suffered a non-contact injury in which he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and dislocated the knee joint. It sidelined Bridgewater for essentially two full seasons, other than those two passes – one was intercepted – he threw for the Vikings late in a 34-7 win over Cincinnati on Dec. 17.

”There was never any doubt in my mind that I would get to that point again,” Bridgewater said. ”When I first stepped on that field for the first time last year, it was a great feeling to just know that everything Caleb Sturgis Jersey , all the hard work that I put in, all the time and dedication that everyone who was involved in me overcoming what I overcame, it was just a great feeling.

”It was very rewarding to not only myself, but everyone who was involved in everything that I went through.”

Minnesota moved on from Bridgewater this offseason, allowing him to become a free agent while signing Kirk Cousins to a massive deal to be the Vikings’ new starting quarterback. It was a quiet ending to what Bridgewater hopes is just the first chapter of his NFL career.

”Right now, I have to continue to just focus on the present,” Bridgewater said. ”I can’t look back. I enjoyed my time there, the fans are awesome and everyone there was top of the line, but I have to focus on the now and prepare myself for this upcoming season.”

Bridgewater joined the Jets because he said he liked the direction they are heading. His deal is worth $6 million, with a maximum value of $15 million with incentives, but includes just $500,000 in guaranteed money. In essence, Bridgewater is gambling on himself to show New York – and other NFL teams – that he can be at least close to the quarterback he was before the injury.

”It isn’t about proving to the people who counted you out or doubted you,” Bridgewater said. ”It’s about proving to the people who believed in you and showing them that, hey Nathan Peterman Jersey , your prayers, your belief, it all paid off.”

Where Bridgewater will ultimately fit in the Jets’ plans is uncertain. They re-signed Josh McCown, the starter last season, to a one-year deal and he’s expected to enter the offseason program at No. 1 on the team’s depth chart. But while Bridgewater was on the call with reporters, Jets team brass was attending USC quarterback Sam Darnold’s pro day in Los Angeles.

New York traded up from No. 6 in this year’s draft to acquire Indianapolis’ pick at third overall. That means the Jets are likely focused on selecting one of the top quarterbacks available. They are attending the pro day for Wyoming’s Josh Allen later this week and have a workout scheduled with Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield on Saturday.

”Being a quarterback or just being an athlete, the ultimate competitor, as a player, I love competition,” Bridgewater said, ”because it not only makes you better but it makes the team better.”

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