The Buffalo Bills are benching second-year quarterback EJ Manuel in favor of veteran Kyle Orton, the team announced Monday afternoon.
EJ Manuel benched, Bills will start Kyle Orton
The Bills have benched their 2013 first-round pick in favor of a journeyman veteran.
Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
“Kyle Orton is our starting quarterback right now. We need more overall production from that position,” head coach Doug Marrone said at his Monday press conference. “We came in today, looked at the tape and made a decision that gives us the best opportunity to win.”
“We are all-in to win. That’s what it comes down to,” Marrone said.
The Bills started the 2014 season with back-to-back wins, but have dropped their last two games and the support for Manuel was rumored to be waning during the NFL preseason.
Marrone stated that this is a good opportunity for Manuel to sit back and correct some of his issues.
So far this season, Manuel has completed less than 60 percent of his passes despite a game plan devised by Marrone requiring few difficult throws. The 2013 first-round pick tossed two interceptions on Sunday during a 23-17 loss to the Houston Texans, giving him three on the season against only five touchdown passes.
Orton steps into the starting job after a journey that took him from Dallas, to retirement, to unretirement, and finally to Buffalo. For his career, Orton has completed 58.5 percent of his 1,326 passes for over 15,000 yards, 83 touchdowns, and 59 interceptions. He has previously started games for the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Dallas Cowboys.
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