Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘“We got off (Sunday), then back to practice on Monday,” Gore said matter-of-factly Saturday following the Bills’ 31-26 preseason-concluding loss to the Carolina Panthers, a game where he was the Bills’ best player. “I can’t control it so there’s nothing that I can really do about it. But I put my best foot forward every day during camp, during preseason. Whatever they decide, they decide. They’re going to do what’s best for the team and I’ll be fine.”’

‘For me, the big decision comes down to Andreessen and Spector and I’m going with the hometown hero. Andreessen just looks like a playmaker and he can certainly do anything Spector can, both on defense and special teams. Spector can’t stay healthy, so if the Bills can get him to the practice squad, that works for me.’

‘The game will be available locally via the following stations: WROC (Channel 8, Rochester), WIVB (Buffalo area), WSYR (Syracuse), WPNY/WFXV/WUTR (Utica); WETM/EETM (Elmira); WWTI (Watertown); WTEN/WXXA (Albany).’

‘The top four are set with Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman and Mack Hollins. Last year the Bills rostered only five, and based on his fully guaranteed contract, Marquez Valdes-Scantling presumably is the fifth man. Now he’s hurt, as is Samuel, but coach Sean McDermott said Thursday that he believes both are in a good spot to return for Week 1. If that happens, is that group done, or will the Bills consider keeping six. Would it be Tyrell Shavers who makes the team? He has done some nice things in practice but he’s done nothing in the first two games, with the caveat that the QB situation has been, to put it mildly, troublesome so it’s tough to evaluate.’

‘For the first time this year, a limited number of sets will be sold some Wegmans stores in Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia, while supplies last. Wegmans customers will be limited to four sets per transaction, said company spokeswoman Mandee Puleo.’

‘Obviously he has moved on and has chalked it up as a learning experience, but it still bothers him that he did not reach out a little further to haul in a pass that all top-flight NFL receivers would have caught.’

‘Linebacker Joe Andreessen has certainly worked his way into the conversation for being in the latter group for the Buffalo Bills, and the way he has performed this summer, it may no longer be a surprise to see him make the initial 53-man roster when it is announced next Tuesday.’

‘The Buffalo Bills need a quarterback to help them get through the final preseason game Saturday afternoon at Highmark Stadium, and it appears according to NFL Network that Anthony Brown is the choice.’

‘McDermott read off a list of walking wounded that was so extensive, you would think it was December rather than mid-August, and he admitted the injuries are becoming a major concern because not only are so many players unavailable, it is impacting how the Bills practice, and how they will use personnel in the preseason finale against Carolina Saturday.’

‘One name that has come up is 36-year-old Ryan Tannehill who is currently unemployed after the Tennessee Titans released him in the spring. Nice idea, but the problem there is Tannehill is surely weighing his options to see if a starting opportunity comes available and he probably won’t want to join the Bills just to carry a clipboard. Among the other available QBs, the list is frightful and includes Brian Hoyer, Blaine Gabbert, A.J. McCarron and Trevor Siemian.’

‘There were 91 players who came to St. John Fisher University to open training camp three weeks ago, and perhaps the only one with lesser odds to make the 53-man roster than Andreessen was wrestler-turned-defensive-tackle Gable Steveson. But Andreessen – who grew up a Bills fan in Lancaster and played at the University at Buffalo – opened some eyes with a superb performance as he recorded a game-high 12 tackles, two for lost yardage.’

‘It was tough to make a judgment on the first-string offense because quarterback Josh Allen was scratched from the lineup after a heavy rain fell about 90 minutes before kickoff, softening the field. But the first-string defense, which played the first quarter and part of the second, was dominant as the Steelers weren’t able to do anything.’

‘There won’t be any update on the severity until at least Sunday, maybe Monday. but if he’s going to miss time, the Bills will be scrambling to find a backup because Ben DiNucci can’t be the No. 2.’

‘As it pertains to Saturday’s second preseason game against the Steelers, the Bills need DiNucci to get up to speed quickly because they certainly don’t want to risk playing Allen and Trubisky too long in the game. The QB situation is the first of four things I’ll be watching.’

‘Reading too much into a preseason game is foolhardy, but there was no doubt Buffalo’s play left a sour taste in McDermott’s mouth, so fans should expect to see a crisper, more focused performance against the Steelers.’