Buffalo to be without their main signal caller, despite better than expected diagnosis.
The Buffalo Bills will be without quarterback EJ Manuel for several weeks after scans revealed he has lateral collateral ligament sprain stemming from a heavy tackle in the side’s loss to the Browns.
Manuel was hit hard in the third quarter when attempting to scramble for extra yards after the pocket broke down, but rather than heading for the safety of the sideline, the young quarterback was belted by the defence.
However, the news was feared to be worse with a possible season-ending surgery at one point required, however, Bills offcials said Manuel won’t go under the knife and will play again later this year.
“It’s early on now to really give an exact time frame or even a window. What we need right now is for it to calm down and see where it’s at,” Bill coach Bill Marrone said.
“Probably in a week see how it’s progressing, see where he is, then get it down into a little bit more of a window.”
Buffalo will need to scramble to find another quarterback on the open market with the only other healthy option being rookie Jeff Tuel who replace Manuel and finished with just 2-4 passes for 25 yards.
Marrone said while the franchise was looking around the free agent market he did not rule out Tuel getting his first start when the Browns take on the Cincinnati Bengals in week six.
“We will be looking to bring in another quarterback. We’re in the process of that right now,” Marrone said.
“It’s not a stretch (that the new quarterback starts against Cincinnati). I think it all depends on who it is, what we get, what their background is in their system.”
“By the end of the weekend, I’ll have a lot better feel for what we’re trying to accomplish, seeing who we’re going to bring in.”
The change in plans could not come at a worse time for the Browns, who at 3-2, are off to one of their best starts to a season in years.
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