There has been a lot of talk about whether E.J. Manuel will be the Bills’ starting quarterback this season. However, it’s also not a given that he will make the 53-man roster, according to Joe Buscaglia of WKBW, who has come to this conclusion from talking with several people associated with the Bills.
From the outside it appears that veteran Matt Cassel has a good shot at winning the starting job, but it’s well known that coach Rex Ryan is also fond of the athletic Tyrod Taylor. Manuel lost the starting job after four games last season and he’s looking to prove himself again this summer, but he may be facing an uphill battle. Recently, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News opined that Manuel was likely to get traded if he didn’t win the No. 1 job.
Buscaglia writes that while Manuel is regarded as a solid teammate, the Bills are concerned about his on-the-field limitations. As it stands, Manuel simply isn’t accurate enough to play at a high level in the NFL. The Florida State product had a promising rookie season in which he threw for 1,972 yards in ten starts. Even then, his touchdown-to-interception ratio left much to be desired as he threw for 11 scores but gave up 9 picks.
The new regime in Buffalo might feel that Manuel can be saved with different guidance, but Ryan’s team might also decide to start fresh under center.