Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone just named veteran Kyle Orton the team’s starting quarterback for their Week 5 bout with the Detroit Lions.
Doug Marrone confirms that EJ Manuel is benched. Kyle Orton to start in Week Five.
— Jay Skurski (@JaySkurski) September 29, 2014
This means that second-year signal caller EJ Manuel has been benched after struggling through the first four weeks of the season. Manuel, a first-round pick from Florida State back in 2013, has put up five touchdowns compared to three interceptions in four starts this year.
He’s coming off a Week 4 performance against the Houston Texans that saw him throw two interceptions, including a pick-six with the Bills driving for a two-score lead early in the third quarter. It was Buffalo’s second straight loss after opening up the season 2-0.
While Manuel hasn’t performed up to task early in his NFL career, the idea that Kyle Orton will be able to lead the Bills offense to a better performance moving forward is laughable.
Orton was signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Bills late last month. Outside of a Week 17 start for the Dallas Cowboys last season, Orton has not started on a regular basis since the 2011 campaign. He boasts a 35-35 record with 83 touchdowns compared to 59 interceptions in 70 career NFL starts.
Photo: USA Today