Buffalo Bills rookie EJ Manuel goes 16-of-21 passing against Colts

Aug 11, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA;Buffalo Bills quarterback EJ Manuel (3) runs past Indianapolis Colts defenders during their pre-season game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 11, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA;Buffalo Bills quarterback EJ Manuel (3) runs past Indianapolis Colts defenders during their pre-season game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills fans got a tantalizing glimpse of their future at quarterback on Sunday as rookie EJ Manuel (out of Florida State) played the entire first half against the Indianapolis Colts. Though Manuel did lose a fumble that was recovered by the Colts, he finished with an excellent stat line: 16-of-21 passing for 107 yards and a touchdown to tight end Dorin Dickerson. The Bills ended up winning the game by the score of 44-20.

Manuel, known for his athleticism, also added 28 yards rushing, 24 of them on a single first-quarter run.

The rookie especially shined in the two-minute drill at the end of the half. Manuel marched the Bills 95 yards down the field, completing all 9 of his pass attempts.

The strong performance adds even more intrigue to the quarterback competition between Manuel and Kevin Kolb. Due to injury, Kolb won’t get a chance to play in the next preseason game (Sunday), which means Manuel will have another opportunity to prove he’s the best fit for the job.

What’s your take, FanSided Bills fans? Who would you rather see guide your team in 2013? (I’m gonna go out on a limb here and guess Jeff Tuel isn’t going to receive a lot of votes.)

[Source: ESPN]