After a dominant 40-14 win over the Jets last December, Josh Allen sat behind the table and summed it all up with a grin: “Everybody eats in this offense.” The numbers backed him… Touchdowns came from all directions… 2 TDs to be precise… His counterpart, Aaron Rodgers, could only manage to throw for 2 picks. rookies made splash plays, and the air attack looked as deep as ever.

But that philosophy, built on distribution and trust, now meets a fork in the road. With the regular season approaching, the Bills have doubled down on surrounding Allen with even more firepower.  But it wasn’t the kind of move that made a massive splash. Instead, it was a simple announcement on the team’s official X feed: “We have signed OL Dan Feeny and released OL Rush Reimer.”

At first glance, it might look like a standard move. But for McDermott and Josh Allen, it was anything but routine. This small shift hinted at the lengths to which Buffalo will go, financially and strategically, to ensure their franchise QB has the shield he needs.

To get Feeny, considered one of the savvier, more reliable OL available, the Bills are the five-figure loss: a $15,00 dead-cap charge. It’s the ripple from cutting rookie Rush Reimer, whose three-year, $2.98 million contract had barely left the ink dry. For this new season, his cap hit could have been around $845,000 if he’d made the final 53. But with the addition of Feeny for Josh Allen, the 5-figure loss seems small compared to the upside the duo could bring.

What pushed Sean McDermott and GM Brandon Beane toward this calculated roster shake-up? At its core, it’s always been about protecting Josh Allen. While Allen thrives under pressure better than most, the Bills’ pass-block win rate landed in the middle of the NFL pack last season. Meaning he was still forced into high-risk improvisation far too often.

Despite not having a single first-rounder up front, Buffalo’s offensive line has thrived off consistency. The Bills have averaged 3.6 returning starters over the past five years. This statistic has helped them allow the fewest sacks in the league last season. Players like Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, and Spencer Brown may not be household names. But they’ve been dependable. And with Allen propping up the offense without a top-20 WR or top-10 TE in receiving grade since 2023… Yes, that continuity matters even more.

But the 2025 margin for error is slimmer than ever, especially with recent injuries thinning McDermott’s depth chart. That’s why the addition of veteran guard Dan Feeny could be pivotal. His grit, versatility, and locker room leadership give Allen some breathing room. More importantly, Dan will give McDermott a little insurance against the chaos that comes with betting big on offensive fireworks.

Injury crisis for Sean McDermott and Josh Allen

Josh Allen is all-in for this team with his team-first mentality. It’s a fact that hasn’t gone unnoticed by McDermott either. As the coach noted recently, “I’m extremely appreciative of the guys and their mindset, and I really believe that starts at the top with Josh. Very unselfish in his approach” But even with the perfect mindset for cheering his team on, Josh Allen finds himself without many key players that contribute to his success.

The WR room looks critical at this point. Only Koen Coleman and Elijah Moore remain healthy. Khalil Shakir (Allen’s prized target) is on a week-to-week scenario with a high-ankle sprain. Joshua Palmer and Curtis Samuel are both out with groin / hamstring injuries. Rookie CB Maxwell Hairston also finds himself on the sideline for about three weeks owing to his LCL sprain. And these are only the beginning of the list. 11 more stars find themselves on the list of battered and bruised, with Spencer Brown (back), Dawson Knox (hamstring), and Tyler Bass (pelvic soreness) to name a few.

With the addition of Dan Feeny at guard, Josh Allen’s security becomes a little tighter and better. As the regular season looms, these incremental improvements start to look like chess moves in a grander strategy. Injuries and unpredictable camp performances have already forced Buffalo to re-examine every roster spot. If Buffalo’s season ends with a parade, nobody will remember the $15,000 cap hit. If an extra tick of protection gives Allen a game-winning strike in January, every penny will have been worth it. Allen & Co. already seem ready for explosions, even with injury scares across the board. The only question is how well these explosions will play out on the gridiron once September is finally here.