What happened to Josh Allen's nose? Bills QB forced to jam nostril with gauze after bloody tackle vs. Jets

Fresh off a thrilling Week 1 comeback against the Baltimore Ravens, Josh Allen was back in action on Sunday. 

The Buffalo Bills quarterback stepped into his first divisional game of the year against the New York Jets, who may prove to be Buffalo's biggest threat in the AFC East this season. But just a few minutes into the matchup, Allen had to go to the sideline.

The star quarterback got a bloody nose against the Jets, then returned with cotton in his nose to stop the blood. 

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Here's what to know about Allen's nose injury in Sunday's Week 2 matchup.

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What happened to Josh Allen's nose?

After Allen was tackled in the first quarter of Sunday's game, falling forward as he did so, he appeared to catch a hand to the nose through his face mask. Allen then immediately ran to the sideline to get treated.

Josh Allen falls forward on a run, immediately calls for Mitch Trubisky to sub in. pic.twitter.com/V4VJKUmo2B

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 14, 2025

Allen was seen with blood falling down his face on the sidelines. But it wasn't a long absence, as he returned a few plays later with cotton stuffed in his nostrils.

#Bills QB Josh Allen is back in the game — bloody nose and all. He is playing with cotton in his nostril. https://t.co/SS1FFs3MfI pic.twitter.com/BRrIu0Z5fb

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 14, 2025

According to Mike Garafolo, Allen did continue to get medical attention after Buffalo finished the drive with a field goal. On the CBS broadcast, Tracy Wolfson also reported that Allen may get an X-ray on his nose, and the training staff began icing it to prevent swelling when the offense isn't on the field.

Given that Allen was back in the game fairly quickly though, he's expected to be fine, even if he has to continue with the gauze in his nose. Still, it was a scare for the Bills momentarily, and Allen may have to get further looks at his nose after the conclusion of the Week 2 game.

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Who is the Bills' backup QB?

Buffalo's backup quarterback this season is Mitchell Trubisky; when Allen ran to the sidelines on Sunday, it was Trubisky who entered as his replacement.

Trubisky, 31, is most well-known for his four-year run as a starter for the Chicago Bears. His best season came in 2018, when he tossed 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions for Chicago. However, Trubisky fell out of favor with the Bears over time, and he's been a backup since. He had a one-year run with the Bills in 2021, spent two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, then returned to the Bills in 2024.

Trubisky completed a 32-yard pass upon entering Sunday's game. His experience has made him Buffalo's immediate backup to Allen, offering some athleticism and pedigree if the team's star ever goes down.