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E.J. Manuel will take a seat as the Buffalo Bills’ starting quarterback in favor of veteran Kyle Orton.
Orton, who once lost his job as the Broncos’ starter to Tim Tebow, will make his first start as a Bill Sunday at Detroit. The move was announced Monday by coach Doug Marrone.
Orton, 31, spent the last two seasons as a backup for the Dallas Cowboys. He had considered retirement before signing with the Bills over the offseason.
The QB change comes a day a 23-17 loss to Houston that dropped the Bills’ record to 2-2 after a 2-0 start.
As the NFL Network’s Ian Rappoport notes, Maneul — Buffalo’s first-round pick in 2013 — was rushed into a starting spot last year and retained the job this year.
The #Bills never intended EJ Manuel to be the starter last year. Wanted him to learn behind Kevin Kolb. Now replicate that with Kyle Orton.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 29, 2014
Chris Brown, who writes for the Bills’ official website, notes that Marrone didn’t commit to Orton beyond Sunday’s game at Detroit.