EJ Manuel completed under 50 percent of his passes vs. the Texans in Week 4.
EJ Manuel completed under 50 percent of his passes vs. the Texans in Week 4. (USATSI)

   The Buffalo Bills benched 2013 first-round pick EJ Manuel before the youngster had made even 16 career NFL starts, or October of his sophomore season, with his lack of accuracy and lack of explosiveness key decisions to them turning to veteran backup Kyle Orton. And, according to sources with knowledge of the situation, concerns about the health of the team’s receivers also played a role in the dramatic switch.

  There were several instances this season when Manuel threw receivers into dangerous situations, and frustration was mounting about the situation among the receivers, sources said. During a recent loss to San Diego, after sailed balls had put pass catchers in danger, 2014 first-round pick Sammy Watkins stopped short on one ball and sources said at times receivers have been demonstrative and vocal about the errant throws. A team official said that they had not heard any messages conveyed from the coaching staff about Manuel’s passes putting its receivers in danger and that the move was made by coach Doug Marrone. It was under his domain and not one where he had to confer with the football operations department.

   However, within the locker room it did not go unnoticed, sources said. The Bills have a very young group of receivers, almost all on their rookie contracts, who will be dependent on decent quarterback play to help them land the kind of second contracts that can set them up for life, as under the current CBA entry-level compensation is limited. Manuel wasn’t viewed as a particularly strong leader, either, and in his public comments often wasn’t quick to take accountability himself, though his lack of progress was clearly a central issue for a franchise that believes it has stockpiled able weapons around him.

   Some around the team were surprised with how pass-happy the offense was at times given Manuel’s clear limitations, which served to further expose him. Manuel ranks 28th in the NFL in yards per attempt (6.4) and 28th in completion percentage as well (58 percent), and attempted 83 passes in the past two weeks, both loses, with last week’s game ending on an interception.

  Of course, one could make the counter argument that Manuel, after being over-drafted (most saw him as a second-round prospect at best), wasn’t provided sufficient time to learn his craft, but the larger reality for the Bills is that, coming off yet another 6-10 season and at a time when a new ownership group is about to formally take over the franchise this week, jobs are on the line and expectations have been raised. And with everyone under review, and Orton a capable veteran, the switch was made to stabilize the offense and attempt to make a run in what appears to be a very much more up-for-grabs AFC East than we’ve seen in a decade or more.

  Orton thinks and plays the game much faster than Manuel does at this stage of his career, and once the Bills gave him over $5 million to sign there – having managed to procure his release by the Cowboys after threats of retiring – it was only a matter of time before he got the opportunity to play.