The New England Patriots know which starting quarterback they will face Sunday.
Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone announced Friday that quarterback Thad Lewis will make his fifth start of the season when the team visits New England. Rookie EJ Manuel, the Bills’ usual starter, is listed as doubtful to play against the Patriots with a knee injury.
“It was a tough decision,” Marrone told the Buffalo media, according to the Bills’ official website. “EJ was practicing hard all week trying to come back, and basically it goes back to the injury didn’t progress as well as I wanted it to. He wanted to go out there and play, but I need him to play at 110 percent for us to win. So he wasn’t going to be able to go out there and play at 110 percent. He could have played but not at the level that we need for us to win.
“Thad has done a nice job and he’s the backup quarterback, so we’re putting him in there and he’ll be the starter Sunday.”
Manuel has been limited in practice this week. He has suffered three knee injuries this season, and Sunday will mark Manuel’s sixth missed start.
Lewis is 2-2 in his four starts this season. He has thrown for 845 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions while completing 60.2 percent of his passes. Manuel is 4-6 as the starter and has completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 1,972 yards and 11 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
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