The Bulls rejected the proposed sack after Josh Allen’s eight-sack exit

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Josh Allen dismissed any suggestion of an injury, even citing a taped pad on the back of the Bulls quarterback’s forearm that extended above his right throwing elbow.

“A little bit of road rash,” Allen said after practice on Wednesday. “It just tries to soften if I get hit or a little hit, that’s all. Just got hit in the weird bone on that last drive.”

Allen was referring to Thursday’s 23-19 loss at Houston, an outing in which he was severely harassed by a Texans defense that hit him 12 times and sacked him a career-high eight times. At one point, the quarterback collapsed on the turf in pain, spraining his left shoulder after being pushed back by linebacker Will Anderson.

“All good. Yeah, we’re ready to roll,” he said as Buffalo (7-4) returned from an extended break and traveled to play Pittsburgh (6-5) on Sunday.

Questions remain, however, over the general health of the team, and especially over the status of Allen’s two top guards.

Starting left tackle Dion Dawkins is in concussion protocol and uncertain to play. Coach Sean McDermott said Dawkins was evaluated for a concussion and cleared to return during the game before experiencing symptoms a day later.

Meanwhile, right tackle Spencer Brown is unlikely to play after injuring his right shoulder.

Backup Ryan VanDemark will be a candidate to fill in for Dawkins, while sixth-round pick Chase Lindt will replace Brown. Buffalo’s offensive line has been durable this season, with Brown the only starter to miss a game.

While Allen (right elbow) was listed as a full participant, Dawkins and Brown did not practice.

McDermott expressed concern about Allen’s number of hits this season. He has already been sacked 28 times, doubling his total from last year.

“If we want to win or give ourselves a chance to win, we have to get better out there,” McDermott said.

Allen expressed confidence in Buffalo’s backup linemen that they need to fill in. And he has no intention of changing his erratic style of play that leaves him open to tackles or picks and hits on the run.

“Ultimately, I’m trying to do whatever I can to help this team win football games,” Allen said. “But understanding, again, not trying too hard is the most important thing and just being smart in that aspect.”

He was also quick to take the blame for Buffalo’s offensive inconsistencies that have helped the team lose four of seven games.

“Stop turning the ball over and it’s on me,” said Allen, who has had two-turnover outings in each of his past three starts and is 2-4 this season when committing a turnover.

Allen was otherwise in an enthusiastic mood, and was keen to point out why it was called the funny bone. “Because it’s connected to Humerus,” he said.

He’s also coming off a weekend in which the former Wyoming player had a chance to freshen up by traveling to Laramie for the Cowboys’ game against Nevada. Allen was joined by his wife, actress Hailee Steinfeld, and his parents at a ceremony in which Wyoming retired his No. 17 jersey.

“Yeah, it wasn’t about the game. It wasn’t what we did,” Allen said, referring to the Houston loss. “It was more about a celebration of what happened at the University of Wyoming and getting to see a lot of my old teammates. It was great to see them and catch up … and some relationships that I still cherish to this day.”