The Buffalo Bills have a quarterback battle in OTAs and camp this summer with Matt Cassel, EJ Manuel and Tyrod Taylor all battling to start and reports have all three players getting first team reps and this comes as LeSean McCoy is injured for OTA workouts, leaving Fred Jackson and Anthony Dixon to start things off for Rex Ryan.
The Bills were close to the playoffs last season and went 9-7 and had they had some better QB play, they could have made it to the postseason. According to the Buffalo News, Taylor, Cassel and Manuel will all get chances with the first team offense this offseason and Rex Ryan will likely pick a starter heading into training camp. Cassel was acquired in a trade this offseason, while Manuel comes in from the previous regime with Doug Marrone and has been disappointing.
Taylor was previously the backup for Joe Flacco in Baltimore and buffalobills.com reports that he will be getting first team reps this offseason with the other quarterbacks. GM Doug Whaley said that Taylor will get a fair shot and that it's "all about competition" heading into the summer. Cassel comes in as the favorite and while Manuel likely is in second place to start, he has to prove some things to the new staff.
There was a report earlier in the season that Manuel may not make it out of the summer unless he improves and the Bills adding Taylor could add to that. The team have Taylor over $1 million guaranteed and that means that Manuel will have more pressure on him this offseason. Manuel comes in after playing in five games last season and in his 15 games as a pro overall, he is completing just 58 percent of his passes. Manuel has 16 TDs and 12 picks in his career and he needs to play better overall to stay in the competition.
According to ESPN.com, McCoy is coming into OTAs with a sore neck and that has put Fred Jackson up front with the first team. Obviously Jackson will be behind McCoy when the season starts, but to open OTAs he is getting more reps. McCoy comes in after his trade from the Eagles and he has the chance to be the feature back in Buffalo. McCoy is one of the best RBs in football and barring an injury he will be the top of the depth chart after rushing for at least 13000 yards in three of the past four seasons.
