Apparently, Tyrod Taylor could get Wally Pipped by a guy who got benched for Kyle Orton.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Bills quarterback EJ Manuel has a chance to win back the starting job with a strong performance in place of Taylor on Sunday. Taylor, who won the job over Manuel and Matt Cassel after joining the team as a free agent, has a sprained MCL and reportedly will miss the game.
One of the key factors for Manuel will be getting the ball to receiver Sammy Watkins, who stepped way out of character this week with complaints about his lack of touches -- and about Taylor’s inability or unwillingness to throw Watkins the ball. In one of the four games Watkins and Manuel played together last season, Watkins caught eight passes for 117 yards and a touchdown.
In three games with Taylor this year, Watkins has seven catches for 99 yards and a touchdown.
Although the goal always should be to put the best players on the field, in Buffalo it feels like the quarterback situation could be a product of the ongoing push and pull between the front office, which is invested in Manuel, and the coaching staff, which is invested in Taylor. With someone (possibly in the front office) leaking to the league-owned media conglomerate the notion that Manuel could win back the job he lost more than a year ago, guys in the locker room could start choosing sides.
And with coach Rex Ryan refusing to muzzle his players and the team reportedly having no problem with Watkins’ decision to go public with his complaints about the offense and Taylor, don’t be surprised if members of the team start making their cases to the media about whether Taylor or Manuel should play.
If the Bills can stay on the right side of .500, it won’t be an issue. If they start to fade, it could all implode.