Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane: Josh Allen's Backup 'Worth The Risk'

The Buffalo Bills reunited with quarterback Mitch Trubisky to serve as the team's second-stringer after the former NFL starter made a good impression in 2021.

Bills brought in Mitch Trubisky to finish the game against Washington. Jg 09221 Bills 29 / Jamie Germano via Imagn Content

Two AFC playoff teams started backup quarterbacks this past postseason.

It's certainly not an ideal situation but it's one that title contenders must prepare for due to the sport's high injury risk.

Following an offseason free-agent signing, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane believes the Bills have the right guy in place in case of emergency. After a rocky two-year tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers, former No. 2 overall draft pick Mitch Trubisky returned to the Bills on a two-year contract reportedly worth $5.25 million.

Dec 16, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) passes / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

"We had limited resources there," said Beane at the league meetings in Orlando late last month. "Of all the guys [backup quarterbacks] that we had here, we really thought Mitch fit the best of what we're trying to do should Josh go down. He's a really good athlete."

After a 29-21 record as the Chicago Bears' starter, Trubisky moved onto Buffalo where he spent the 2021 season as Allen's understudy. With Allen available to start every game, Trubisky was relegated to mop-up duty and went 6-of-8 passing for 43 yards and one interception. He recorded one rushing touchdown.

"When he has here, had his number been called, had Josh gone down, we felt really confident," said Beane. "I think if you looked at what he did in his preseason time, it probably stood out amongst any of the other guys we've had."

Trubisky torched his old team during his second Bills' preseason start. He passed for 221 yards and one touchdown in a 41-15 win over Chicago.

Although he didn't live up to expectations as a franchise quarterback, Trubisky was more than serviceable for the Bears over the course of his rookie contract. Through 51 appearances, he completed 64.0 percent of passes for 10,609 yards and 64 touchdowns to 37 interceptions.

"To get him at that number, we thought it was worth the risk for what he did the year he was here," said Beane. "We'll see this year, if he does have to play, was that the right decision."

Trubisky will turn 30 years old prior to the start of the 2024 regular season.