Matthew Fairburn | mfairburn@nyup.com

<p>Sean McDermott and the Buffalo Bills have a plan. </p>
<p>Despite persistent questions and the temptation to see rookie quarterback Josh Allen against better competition, the Bill kept him with the No. 3 offense throughout OTAs. That will likely be the case at minicamp next week as well. </p>
<p>"We'll just see," McDermott said. "It's a fluid situation. It's all part of doing what's best for A, our football team and B, Josh's development overall. I'm not going to say I'm not going to do it. It's just what's the right time based on our plan. Overall, AJ and Nate will run with the ones and Josh with the threes."</p>
<p>That's not to say McDermott won't give Allen a chance to earn those reps. He's just not going to rush it. </p>
<p>"It's early in our process here and we've got a plan, we've got to stick with it,: McDermott said. "Doesn't mean we don't listen and keep put ear to the ground and our eyes peeled for what's going on and adjust according; that's important. The important part right now is to develop a good foundation and that's what we're doing." </p>
<p>The Bills had their final open OTA of the spring on Thursday. Minicamp gets underway next week. Here's what we learned. </p>
<p><br></p>

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Matthew Fairburn

<p>Orchard Park, N.Y. - AJ McCarron isn't going away quietly. </p>
<p>Sean McDermott insisted the Buffalo Bills will have an open quarterback competition, and McCarron is taking every opportunity he gets to inch his way toward securing the job. </p>
<p>At the Bills' sixth OTA practice on Thursday, McCarron took all of the first-team reps, while Nathan Peterman worked with the second-team offense and Josh Allen once again was running the third team. McCarron didn't disappoint, either. </p>
<p>No, his highs aren't quite as high as Josh Allen's, but his lows aren't as low, either. That showed up on Thursday when the Bills had their second open practice of the spring. Here's a blow-by-blow account of what we saw in chronological order from when practice started at 11 a.m.</p>
<p><br></p>

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FILE - In this May 11, 2018, file photo, Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly is shown at the Buffalo Bills NFL football rookie minicamp, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Kelly says he's going to receive ESPN's Jimmy V Award for the toughness and perseverance he's displayed during his ongoing battle with oral cancer. Kelly says cable network officials informed him about 10 days ago that he will receive the honor at the ESPY Awards next month. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File)

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Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott smiles during a post-game news conference at the end of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Bills defeated the Dolphins 22-16. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Eric Wood delivered a statement at his press conference on Monday afternoon. He did not officially retire.

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Matthew Fairburn

<p>Orchard Park, N.Y. - The <a href="http://newyorkupstate.com/buffalo-bills">Buffalo Bills</a> are doing everything they can to make sure Josh Allen doesn't feel added pressure. At the moment, it seems to be working </p>
<p>Sure, Nathan Peterman and AJ McCarron were splitting first-team reps while Allen worked exclusively with the third team at OTAs on Thursday. The rookie shrugs it off. It's not that he doesn't want to win the job, he's just not putting too much stock into the order of reps.  </p>
<p>"I'm going out there and I'm trying to do everything right," Allen said. "I'm not trying to do too much. Whatever Coach [Brian] Daboll and Coach [David] Culley are preaching to me is what I'm going to go out there and I'm going to do. I'm going to trust my teammates, put the ball where it needs to be, let them go make some plays, and it's as simple as that." </p>
<p>Allen didn't look like a third-string quarterback on Thursday afternoon, the first OTA session open to the media. Allen can sling the duke, and he knows it. He made that clear in the two-hour practice during a picture-perfect Orchard Park afternoon. </p>
<p>Here's what we learned. </p>

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Zay Jones (11) warms up before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Rich Barnes)

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File photo of Kim, left, and Terry Pegula being introduced as the new owners of the Buffalo Bills as they pose for members of the media on the football field at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Oct. 10, 2014.

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Matthew Fairburn

Matthew Fairburn | mfairburn@nyup.com

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