It’s about to get real fun in the city of Buffalo.
According to a report on Saturday by Bob Holtzman of ESPN, third-year quarterback EJ Manuel is expected to start for the Bills on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals for the injured Tyrod Taylor. Taylor, who suffered a sprained MCL in Week 5 against the Titans and was originally expected to miss multiple games, was determined to give it a go and apparently tried to convince the Bills’ coaching staff to let him play. But Taylor was deemed not yet ready for game action, paving the way for Manuel to draw the start.
Sources: EJ Manuel expected to start for @buffalobills tomorrow vs Bengals. Tyrod Taylor (knee) tried to convince coaches, but not ready.
— bob holtzman (@BobHoltzmanESPN) October 17, 2015
Taylor has gone 3-2 as the starter of the Bills this season, winning over many with his strong, accurate throws, but irking others with his inconsistency.
Manuel, on the other hand, has gone 6-8 in 14 starts since being drafted by Buffalo in 2013, recording 16 touchdowns as opposed to 12 interceptions. The Florida State product has historically struggled at the professional level with pocket instincts, decision-making, and overthrows particularly when faced with heavy pressure.
Manuel still has a ways to go before being considered a legitimate NFL starting quarterback, and it might not be pretty in Week 6 when he faces off against the Bengals’ ferocious pass rush. While it looks like Taylor could be back for Week 7 against the Jaguars, for now, maybe Rex Ryan oughta think about equipping Manuel with a Kevlar vest come Sunday.
H/T theScore
