Bills urged to sign former $118 million QB after Mitch Trubisky struggles
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Ryan Tannehill No. 17 of the Tennessee Titans.
The Buffalo Bills brought a familiar face back to their quarterback roster this offseason, signing veteran Mitch Trubisky to resume his role as backup to Josh Allen.
But after some struggles in training camp and the team’s first two preseason games, some Bills reporters are speculating that the team may need new help on the bench. Trubisky struggled to move the ball in the team’s 9-3 preseason win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Aug. 17, completing 9 of 13 passes for just 86 yards, no touchdowns and one ugly interception.
The performance led WGR 550 reporter Joe DiBiase to believe the Bills could sign former quarterback rival Ryan Tannehill.
“If he can’t get a starting spot due to injury, Ryan Tannehill would be a significant addition to the Bills as a backup QB,” DiBiase said on X. “If Trubisky had to play, this would be a three-win football team.”
Trubisky also had to leave Saturday’s game due to a knee injury, the severity of which is not yet known.
Ryan Tannehill gets a lot of attention
The Bills have shown no signs of parting ways with Trubisky, who served as Allen’s backup during the 2021 season before spending the last two seasons with the Steelers. But if they decide to look for a new backup, Tannehill could be a top option.
The former Miami Dolphins quarterback remains a free agent after his four-year, $118 million contract with the Tennessee Titans expired. The 36-year-old doesn’t seem to be in a rush to sign with a new team. During an appearance on the Scoop City podcast in July, he said he’s waiting for the right opportunity.
“Right now, I think it depends on the situation,” Tannehill said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to play 12 years and be where I am now. So I’m not just going to keep adding years to add years. I want to be in a situation where I feel really good about myself. I’m not ruling anything out, but it has to be the right situation for me and my family.”
Alex Kay of Bleacher Report noted that Tannehill was a “winner of training camp” as the poor performances of backup quarterbacks across the league led to an increase in his value.
“Because of those disappointing preseason performances, teams may be more willing to spend some money to sign a player as reliable as Tannehill,” Kay wrote. “His presence could bolster a quarterback room before the end of training camp and help a team feel more confident about its chances of staying afloat if a starting passer goes down.”
Bills have already lost a quarterback
The Bills have already made an emergency addition to their quarterback roster, bringing in former Dallas Cowboys signal caller Ben DiNucci after Shane Buechele was sidelined with a neck injury. DiNucci played the second half of Saturday’s win over the Steelers but was limited in his appearance, completing 3 of 5 passes for 20 yards.
Sal Maiorana of the Democrat & Chronicle said the Bills may need to sign at least one more player depending on how Trubisky’s injury progresses.
“There won’t be any news on the severity until at least Sunday, maybe Monday,” Maiorana wrote. “But if he’s out, the Bills will rush to find a replacement because Ben DiNucci can’t be No. 2.”
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, focusing on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. He previously wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and was assistant editor of the sports magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He lives in Rochester, New York, and loves all things football. More about Nathan Dougherty
