He is also entering the season with a new facial look. The beard is almost completely gone, further accentuating the mustache. When asked about what inspired it during Wednesday practice, Allen said:

“O-Line, wasn’t really a choice. Whatever my center asked me to do, I’m gonna try to do. Him (former center Mitch Morse) and (guard David) Edwards are going ‘stache only. So I decided… They asked me to join them. So, I did.”

The Josh Allen-Stefon Diggs connection became one of the most potent in the AFC East right from its inception in 2020. In their first season together, they reached the conference title game – the franchise’s first since the days of Jim Kelly. They remained potent enough to reach the Divisional Round thrice more after that, but other teams and interpersonal turmoil prevented them from going further.

Then, during this offseason, it happened. Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans, ending the connection. Reflecting on the moment, Allen said:

“Stef’s a great player, and what he brought to this team was special. I don’t know if I’d say ‘miss,’ he was a guy that was reliable, you could look to. He’s going to have the juice each and every day, I’m sure he’s bringing it over there in Houston. Definitely, you can’t say that you don’t miss that.”

So if Stefon Diggs is no longer a Bill, then who will catch most of Josh Allen’s passes?

There is a very intense competition to assume the starting wide receiver spots. Khalil Shakir, Chase Claypool, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Curtis Samuel and Keon Coleman are among the biggest names in that fold. But no matter who wins, Allen has one thing to say:

“I am very happy with what we have going on here and how hard the guys have been working. I’m very comfortable with the guys that we’ve brought in.”

The Bills begin their preseason against the Chicago Bears this Saturday.