After nearly five games with just E.J. Manuel taking snaps at quarterback, another injury at the position has given the Bills another unique challenge.
After injuries in the secondary and in the receiving core the last couple of weeks, Buffalo will go with Thaddeus Lewis as the starter for this week after deciding to not sign either Dennis Dixon or Pat White, and the Vikings signing Josh Freeman. Lewis, who was acquired in a trade with the Detroit Lions in the preseason, was brought up off the practice squad after rookie kicker Dustin Hopkins was put on injured reserve with his groin injury.
Lewis is in his fourth year in the league, and started one game for the Browns at the end of the 2012 season versus the Pittsburgh Steelers and their then No.1 ranked defense, completing 22 of 32 passes for 204 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 24-10 defeat. Coach Doug Marrone says that Lewis’ experience, accuracy, and versatile skill set makes him the best man to take snaps for the Bills at this point.
“He can run and he can extend plays–he can run the read option,” said Marrone. “He can throw the ball extremely well and having him with us from the time at Detroit to now, he’s made some great gains because he knows the whole system. Now we just have to fit and game plan what we think he does best.”
“It’s not a point of one of the questions people normally ask is does he know the whole system? He does, he knows everything, he’s bright as hell. Now it’s the point of making sure we give him a plan that he can be successful with.”
Lewis said he didn’t think he would be the starter in Week 6, but that he has stayed ready for “whatever scenario presents itself”.
“I’m just confident, no anxiety,” said Lewis. “Its football, it’s something that I’ve been doing since I was five years old and a lot of people don’t understand, it’s not my ability why I was on practice squad, it’s just the certain situation. As long as you’re confident in your ability, you can go out there and do the things that you know how to do.”
Marrone also said he didn’t feel like he misjudged rookie Jeff Tuel’s ability to play the position in the NFL. Despite Tuel going 8 for 20 for 40 yards and an interception against Cleveland on Thursday night after replacing Manuel, Marrone praised Tuel while also saying why he would not start him this week.
“Jeff in my opinion going to be a very good player,” said Marrone. “He can do a lot of good things and is a great young talent that works hard. My point is the reason we had to have him the position he’s in is because heplayed extremely well in the preseason and we didn’t want to expose ourselves to lose that guy. Our judgment on him and our belief is that he can do it is yes. Now am I going to be wrong down the road, could I? Yeah, I could do that with everyone.”
Before the beginning of the regular season, it appeared the Bills were beginning a bit of a youth movement at special teams, with Rian Lindell being released in favor of Hopkins, and Shawn Powell playing in his second year in the league. However, after Hopkins’ injury and the success of Dan Carpenter (11 of 12 this season), and Powell allowed the Browns’ Travis Benjamin to record 179 punt-return yards on 7 returns, including a 79-yard punt return, giving Buffalo’s defense tough situations to keep Cleveland off the scoreboard.
On Friday, Powell was cut, and his predecessor for the twelve years before, two-time Pro Bowler Brian Moorman, was signed today. Moorman was cut by the Bills last season after four games after a poor perfomance against the Browns, similar to Powell, who was signed as an undrafted freeagent lastseason to take overfor Moorman.
Moorman said that he was “thrilled” and “ecstatic” to return to Buffalo, and had received messages of support from Facebook and Twitter.
“It’s great to be in a familiar place and see familiar faces,” said Moorman. “To be in a community like this and
the outpouring of support that I’ve had since I got back has kind of rendered me speechless.”
Moorman also mentioned his foundation, P.U.N.T., which provides children and their families affected by cancer in Western with opportunities and support, providing assistance and family- centered and events to enrich their lives, provide support and memorable experiences, according to its website.
“I just want to do my part and continue to be a part of this community that we’ve grown to love so much and have supported the causes that we’ve supported with our foundation and everything else,” said Moorman. A big boost to our foundation too just to be able to be back in town consistently and looking forward to getting up to Roswell and seeing the kids, it’s been too long. Just glad to be here.”
