Doug Marrone talking to the press after the Sunday morning practice. Photo by Robin Lalisse
By Robin Lalisse
For the second time in this training camp, Buffalo has to deal with one of its signal-callers out for an extended period of time.
E.J. Manuel will miss the rest of the preseason, the team announced yesterday, with an injury that requires a “minor” procedure on his left knee that was done this morning, according to head coach Doug Marrone.
“During the course of the game, we did not get anything communicated from him or anyone else as far as what might have occurred,” said Marrone. “After the game was over, he felt a little bump. We checked his stability and it was good that night. That’s all we were going on.”
However, Manuel’s status changed drastically on Saturday after further examination, though there is no clear answer as to how Manuel got hurt.
“The next day, I think is the most important thing to focus on. A little bit of swelling. Then you get a concern. Our staff checked him out with an MRI, saw something and went through a minor procedure. I talked to EJ (Manuel) and asked him what play it was. He wasn’t sure. He thought it was the sixth play of his first drive. I went back again and looked at it, tried to see something and it was hard to tell. He didn’t even know if that was the play that he was hurt on. That’s what happens.”
Marrone said he would not talk about a timetable on evaluating where Manuel is until after the preseason ended, though he would not rule him out for the season opener. Marrone also says that there is no certainty that the quarterback competition will resume after Manuel is back from injury.
“I don’t know,” said Marrone. “Again, that’s something I was trying to give you a frame of reference to how I think. There are a lot of variables that go into that: how Kevin (Kolb) is doing, how he is playing, how EJ comes back from the time off, a lot of speculation on that. I think I’ll be able to answer that question once we get to the day-to-day and he’s out here practicing.”
Kevin Kolb experienced missing practice time earlier in camp due to injury, so he can easily relate to Manuel’s current situation.
“I think the frustrating thing is whenever you’re progressing the way you want to progress, and then you have this setback,” said Kolb. “I feel like that happened to me a little bit. I’m sure he feels like that’s happening to him a little bit because he had two good games under his belt. I can’t put words in his mouth, but that can be a little bit frustrating. But just being around him, the little time that I have with his competitive nature and the way he approaches things, he won’t have a problem jumping back in.”
While some would expect the quarterbacks to change their approach due to an opportunity for more reps, neither is.
“It really doesn’t (change my approach),” said Kolb. “Obviously I was pushing with the competition this whole time, pushed to be out there now and forever and Week One and whatever it is. From my mindset, it really doesn’t affect me much.”
“Like I’ve said this from the beginning of the day I got here, I’m going to prepare like I’m the No. 1, whether I’m the three, two or number one guy,” said Jeff Tuel, the undrafted free agent rookie from Washington State. “I think that’s the best way to approach the game. If the time comes and the opportunity presents itself, I’m going to be prepared.”
Marrone would not say exactly where Tuel now stands on the depth chart, but he wants Tuel “to compete to be the starting quarterback”. Kolb is slated to start the preseason game against the Washington Redskins on Saturday at 4:30pm, according to Marrone.
Other Notes:
- The Bills released WR Terrell Sinkfield, OT Tony Hills, DB Mark LeGree and DB Don Unamba today.
- Buffalo also placed WR Kevin Elliott on injured reserve after he suffered an ACL injury on a non-contact injury, according to Marrone.
- Cornerback Crezdon Butler is day-to-day.
- Wide Receiver T.J. Graham was day-to-day this mroning, and felt well during practice, Marrone said.
- OT Thomas Welch is day-to-day and the team should have him back, according to Marrone.
- LB Kiko Alonso was able to practice without any issues, according to Marrone.
- CB Leodis McKelvin did some team work, and is being prepared to be ready to play against the Washington Redskins on Friday, according to Marrone.
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