National Football League

Bills QB Josh Allen admits he'll have to dial back running style to limit risk

Published Apr. 19, 2023 2:12 p.m. ET

Josh Allen recognizes that his style of play might not be the best thing for his long-term NFL future.

The Buffalo Bills' dual-threat quarterback said that he'll probably have to make some changes to his game as he gets older, including his running style.

"I’ve always had the mindset of, I’ve been a football player first and a quarterback second," Allen told reporters Tuesday. "At some point that is going to have to switch. When that point is, I don’t know. I guess I’ll let my body tell me.

"It sounds crazy, but I’m getting older. I know I can’t continue to do this. I know when I’m using my youth, I feel like I can, but over the course of my career, I’m going to have to learn to adapt and change."

Allen, who turns 27 in May, has been one of the league's top rushing quarterbacks since he entered the league in 2018. Over the past two seasons, he has rushed for 763 and 762 yards, respectively, as the Bills have used Allen on designed run plays to help get their ground game going.

Even though Allen has been successful at running the ball, it comes with a risk. As many quarterbacks typically slide or give themselves up, Allen typically fights for more yards — with 66% of his downfield runs resulting in open-field tackles, according to data from the NFL Competition Committee.

Bills coach Sean McDermott admitted in March that the percentage of Allen's runs resulting in tackles "absolutely" makes him nervous.

Allen pinpointed the types of plays that he'll likely have to be a bit less aggressive on in order to protect his health.

"There were some times last year where I'm in the open field, I don't need an extra two yards," Allen said. "Get down, slide and live to fight another down. Again, it's worked up to this point, but I understand that there's going to be a point in time where it's not going to work so well."

In addition to adapting his running style, Allen wants to protect the ball better entering the 2023 season. He threw a league-high five red-zone interceptions and led all quarterbacks with 19 turnovers (14 interceptions, five fumbles lost) last season. Over the past two seasons, Allen has 36 turnovers, which some think might be in part because of his propensity to try to make big plays rather than safer plays.

"I do want to be the smartest quarterback with the football in my hands," Allen said of limiting his turnovers. "I don't want to put the football in harm's way because I know how detrimental that is to our team with the interceptions and the fumbles."

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