EJ Manuel to start Sunday against Steelers

The Buffalo Bills returned to One Bills Drive in Orchard Park this morning with the same question that they entered training camp at St. John Fisher with.

Who the heck is going to play quarterback?

After today’s practice that question is no closer to an answer; EJ Manuel will be making his first start of the preseason this Saturday against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers.

I thought he earned his shot,” Ryan said of Manuel at his post-practice press conference. “I love the competitiveness in him. We’ll see how it goes.”

“Like I said from Day 1, this is a real competition,” Ryan said. “My plan was to give everybody opportunities, whether it was equal reps or whatever, nobody can say nobody was given a fair shot here. So we’ve been giving it.

“I looked at it going in thinking I’d start EJ in that [intrasquad] scrimmage [Aug. 8] and we’ll look at that third preseason game. But as I got to it, I thought EJ earned his shot at this. He played well in those two [preseason] games. And that [scrimmage] really wasn’t like starting a preseason game. So we’ll see.”

Ryan also noted that both Tyrod Taylor and Matt Cassel will receive playing time with the first unit too, which shows just how little one of these players has been able to separate themselves from the pack.

While he didn’t say how he would do it, maybe a quarter-by-quarter type approach for each of the four quarterbacks on the roster is something the Bills will be looking to do to make sure each of the quarterbacks fighting to start get enough time in with the first unit.

The important thing for Manuel, is that even if he is still a long-shot, he has the ball in his hands this week to show the coaching staff he belongs on the field.

The familiar thing for Buffalo is like the week before, the term “No. 1′s” is used almost ironically.

The Bills are still working their way back towards full health at the skill positions, and Ryan noted that Manuel will be without his top four receivers (Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, Percy Harvin and Chris Hogan).

Running backs LeSean McCoy and Anthony Dixon will also remain out, but the Bills offense will get a spark in the return of veteran Fred Jackson, who will be making his first appearance this preseason.

The starting offensive line will be in place, as will starting tight end Charles Clay.

It still seems like an odd plan though.

The third preseason game for NFL teams is usually when they are starting to get into a regular season groove.

Not try to decide their starting quarterback.

“EJ, all he’s gotten reps with was the [third team] and the [second team],” Ryan said.   “Now it’s a shot to get reps with the ones as well. I feel good about that.”