The Buffalo Bills have serious issues at the quarterback position now. Kevin Kolb suffered another concussion and this could be a career-ender. EJ Manuel is injured too. Forcing hand of the Buffalo Bills, and the Bills they first signed 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart. The former first-round draft pick from USC, was a total mess in the NFL. For a tenth overall pick, he was kind of a train wreck.
Now he gets a shot at redemption.
Later, the Buffalo Bills made a trade.
They sent linebacker Chris White to the Detroit Lions for quarterback Thaddeus Lewis.
Before joining the Buffalo Bills, Leinart was most recently a member of the Oakland Raiders. He has started 18 games since being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2006. He threw 15 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in his NFL career.
Leinart spent 2010-2011 as a backup with the Houston Texans, before moving going to Oakland last season. In April, Leinart lost out to Brady Quinn for a roster spot with the Seattle Seahawks.
Lewis spent the 2011-12 seasons on the Cleveland Browns practice squad and their 53-man roster.
He started the Browns’ 2012 regular-season finale against Pittsburgh and was 22-for-32 for 204 yards with a touchdown and an interception. That game represents Lewis’ only regular-season game experience.
EJ Manuel is out for the remainder of the preseason with a knee injury, meaning undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel is the Bills’ only healthy quarterback. Leinart will probably get some time with the ones and play in the next preseason game,
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An analyst for 95.7 The Fan, he also writes on Chicago sports media for Chicago Now. President Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)