Derek Anderson likely to start for Bills with Josh Allen out

Josh Allen will reportedly miss Sunday’s game against the Colts, but at least the Bills will consider going with Derek Anderson over Nathan Peterman.

With Josh Allen taking a league-high 19 sacks going into Week 6, and two more in that game against the Houston Texans, it was a matter of time before he was banged up. He left last Sunday’s game with an elbow injury, and Dianna Russini of ESPN has reported the Bills’ rookie signal caller will not start against the Indianapolis Colts this week and he may miss multiple weeks.

Nathan Peterman replaced Allen against the Texans, and he of course threw two interceptions on 12 attempts (including what turned out to be the game-winning pick-six for Houston). The possibility of more playing time for Peterman is a serious setback for the Bills’ chances to win games, to say nothing of the eyesore it is for anyone who wants to see something resembling competent quarterback play.

On that note, Russini added there’s a movement within the organization for Derek Anderson to start on Sunday.

The Bills signed Anderson just last week, so his full knowledge of a new offense is a question. He also hasn’t been a regular starter since 2010 with the Arizona Cardinals, before making four starts in seven seasons (2011-2017) as Cam Newton’s backup with the Carolina Panthers.

But Anderson is experienced with moments of good play in his career, and the idea head coach Sean McDermott is afraid he’ll lose the locker by going back to Peterman is interesting. The Bills are 2-4 but have looked much worse than that overall, so any player with expectations of going to the playoffs might need a reality check.

The Bills are hoping Allen is their quarterback of the future, so he should be sidelined until he is 100 percent healthy. It’s better for someone like Peterman, and now Anderson, to take some lumps behind a bad offensive line in a season that’s ultimately going nowhere.