Report: Bills expected to start E.J. Manuel against Patriots

Posted by Curtis Crabtree on September 3, 2013, 10:59 PM EDT
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The first quarterback selected in the NFL Draft in April appears set to start the season opener for the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

According to Peter Schrager of FOXSports.com, Bills head coach Doug Marrone is expected to name E.J. Manuel the Bills’ Week 1 starter on Wednesday.

Manuel returned to practice on Sunday and has apparently improved enough from his knee injury to earn the starting nod against the New England Patriots this week. Manuel would get the call to start over undrafted free agent Jeff Tuel, who the Bills had been preparing to start if Manuel was unable to play.

Manuel played well in two preseason games before getting injured. He completed 26 of 33 passes (79-percent) for 199 yards and two touchdowns in games against the Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings.

 

 

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40 responses to “Report: Bills expected to start E.J. Manuel against Patriots”

  2. For any fans who actually follow Bills football, it was obvious 10 days ago that EJ was going to start week 1…….. the whole Jeff Tuel thing was terrible reporting by the national press.

  4. Those Bills are so darn sneaky. Who in a million years would have guessed this. I bet BB is going to be up all night tonight trying to figure out just what the heck he’s going to do now.

  5. Since the Patriots will probably be 14 point favorites , and will win by probably twice twice that number , there is no real pressure on Manuel , because he isn’t expected to lead the Bills to a win. Starting him on Sunday makes sense.

  9. This is a big career move for EJ as last year he was manning the snack bar at the local driving range

  10. This is of little importance. In a year or two the Bills will leave the terrible trash heap of Buffalo and arrive in the sunny and beautiful city of Los Angeles, which is far superior in every way. Not only that, but we have a real fanbase that can actually support a team, much unlike the terrible city known as Buffalo. Sorry guys, we all know how this will end.

  11. The fact that they only have 2 qb’s on the active roster shows that Manuel was cleared to start when they released Leinart and Lewis.
    If Tuel was going to start, it would only be because Manuel was hurt, and if Manuel was hurt, then he wouldn’t be able to be the #2 qb on gameday.

  12. This was the plan from jump street. Him being out for the last two games of preseason was precaution more than anything. Did people really believe Tuel was starting this week? GO BILLS!

  24. EJ is the only legitimate starting QB from his draft class. Geno will bust unless he can grow up first. I don’t see the fire in Glennon that it takes to lead a team. Barkley could be a solid starter down the road, but not a franchise QB. Everyone wants to say the Bills really reached in the draft, but I beg to differ. They were able to trade down and still get the guy they wanted all along (with two WRs, Woods and Goodwin, to go along with it). I am excited to see EJ play this year. (Not even a Bills fan #KCNation)

  25. Lets go. Finally a first round draft pick to start for the bills. So sick of retreads of guys who have been hit in the head too many times.

  28. A prediction:

    13-22 209 1 TD 1 INT 2 Sacks 47 Rushing 1 TD.

    Rushing TD comes near the end of the 4th on a 22 yard scamper and the Ralph explodes! Bills lead 31-28 with 1:20 left. NE has three timeouts with Brady under center at his own 20. The noise alone was enough to carry Dan Carpenters kickoff into the stands…

    What happens?

  32. EJ, I hope you read PFT. Throw down field. Fitzpatrick dunked and dunked earning the captain check down hat.

    I repeat, throw down field.

  34. Does it really matter who starts, they both suck!

    #Ifyouidentif yourselfaspartofBillsmafiayou’reaTuel

  35. If they planned to start Tuel, it would be because Manuel was hurt. So, they would need to sign an emergency QB to play if Tuel went down.

    Since they didn’t do that, Manuel is probably playing.

  38. “Big mistake Bills, you don’t play your starting QB coming off an injury until he’s had plenty of time to both practice and rest.”

    Sincerely
    Mike Shanahan

  39. After the Bills showed their true colors in how they shafted Leinart (how can anyone expect any QB who has not been in a training camp and up to playing speed without any game condition practices against full out defenses to actually do any better than Leinart?). Now the Bills are ready to throw their wonderkid first round draft pick Manual against the Patriots who are going to conceal, confuse, and outwit Manual to where he does not know which way is up.

    I wonder if Manual will actually get through the game unscathed? I would bet we will see Tule-Time and I hope the kid shows flashes of being a good player, even though his Pro Day video showed mainly short and medium passes. Hitch, go, and seam routes were not a part of his Pro Day video, and the few long passes were rainbows. Betcha Belichick has his defenses ready to pounce on either one of these guys!

    The only way the Bills can dream of winning this one is if the Patriots beat themselves.

  40. @ vbbills

    What happens?

    Pats return ensuing kickoff back for a TD. EJ Manuel throws a pick 6. Pats win 42-31.

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