The Buffalo Bills have benched quarterback E.J. Manuel after he struggled against the Houston Texans and have named Kyle Orton as the team’s starter, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Caplan.
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Manuel, a first round pick last year, saw his completion percentage drop in three consecutive weeks since he debuted with a 16-of-22 performance in the team’s Week 1 win against the Chicago Bears in overtime.
He was clearly on a short leash after the Bills signed Orton and gave him a $5 million deal and after Manuel failed to show signs of improvement and actually regressed in the last three weeks, the decision by head coach Doug Marrone was to go with the veteran who he believes gives the team a better shot to win right now.
Kyle Orton to take over as starting QB for #Bills, source confirmed.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) September 29, 2014
Orton was last with the Dallas Cowboys and wanted an opportunity to start elsewhere so after threatening retirement was released where he caught on with Buffalo a week before the start of the season.
With the Bills having the pressure on them to compete for a playoff spot this season, Marrone couldn’t wait for the light to turn on for Manuel any longer and his two interceptions in the 17-23 loss on Sunday to the Texans was the final chance he had to keep his grasp on the starting job.
Manuel has completed 58 percent of his passes this year for 838 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions this season.
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