worst-kept
Josh Allen made his way to Joe Brady’s introductory press conference as head coach of the Buffalo Bills on crutches while donning a walking boot on his right foot.
It was the worst-kept secret in the league that Allen played through an injury late in the regular season and into the playoffs, but it wasn’t until Thursday that the specifics of the injury were revealed.
Allen, in a media session following Brady’s press conference, said he was playing with a broken bone in his right foot. He added that he had a procedure done this week. Later reports said that Allen’s surgery was a procedure for a fifth-metatarsal avulsion. The recovery time for the injury is 8-10 weeks.
Buffalo’s franchise quarterback originally suffered the injury in the Bills’ Week 16 victory over the Cleveland Browns on December 21, 2025. The injury happened before halftime and Allen was seen on television walking to the locker room without a cleat on his right foot. He would return for the second half and not miss any playing time, minus Week 18 when the starters were rested against the New York Jets.
“Not an ideal situation,” Allen said on Thursday. ”Painful throughout the weeks.”
Despite the injury, Allen was a good sport. The quarterback would pop in on Brady’s interview with Pat McAfee and joked that he could play on Sunday, if needed.
“I honestly could play on Sunday if we needed me to,” Allen said while popping into the background of Brady’s interview on The Pat McAfee Show. “I would.”
Joking aside, Allen would have continued playing through the injury as long as the team had advanced this season. For now, Allen can focus on getting healthy for the 2026 season. With the recovery window in mind, Allen is expected to be fine for the Bills’ offseason workout program.
