The main takeaway from the Buffalo Bills’ 2024 preseason was the ongoing challenge they faced with injuries. During their games against the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers, the team was hit hard, losing several players for extended periods.
The situation became so dire that the Bills had to sign two new quarterbacks, Ben DiNucci and Anthony Brown, after losing Shane Buechele (neck) and Mitch Trubisky (knee) to injuries. This severely impacted their offensive play, and fans were relieved when the preseason finally concluded.
As they approached their Week 3 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, the Bills’ primary goal was to exit the game without further injuries. They achieved that objective, allowing them to shift their focus to recovering their injured players and preparing for the Arizona Cardinals.
Despite a 31-26 loss to the Panthers, which dropped their preseason record to 1-2, one player stood out: quarterback Ben DiNucci. He started the game for Buffalo and led them to their first preseason touchdown, connecting with running back Darryton Evans for an 18-yard score in the second quarter, giving the Bills an 11-7 lead.
McDermott: DiNucci just looked like he was in command and not fazed by anything. #Bills
— Chris Brown (@ChrisBrownBills) August 24, 2024
The Buffalo Bills may have their QB3 in Ben DiNucci
DiNucci ended the game with 11 completions on 15 attempts for 76 yards and one touchdown. Head coach Sean McDermott praised DiNucci’s performance after the game, according to Chris Brown.
Until the severity of Mitch Trubisky’s knee injury is fully determined, Bills fans might see Ben DiNucci either on the active roster as the backup or at least on the practice squad. DiNucci was added to the roster ahead of last week’s game against Pittsburgh, where he performed admirably despite having only four days to grasp the entire offense.
In contrast, DiNucci showed greater comfort and poise against Carolina, avoiding major errors and looking solid in the pocket. As Brandon Beane prepares to make challenging roster decisions, DiNucci has potentially made a strong case for himself. He might be considered for a practice squad position and could even serve as Josh Allen’s backup to start the season if Trubisky’s knee injury proves to be more problematic.
