The Buffalo Bills sit squarely in the playoff hunt at 7-5 thanks to an early-season quarterback change.
After starting the season 2-2 under EJ Manuel, coach Doug Marrone made the switch to Kyle Orton, which has helped keep Buffalo afloat in a tightly packed AFC.
Entering the season, the Bills were viewed as a team with the talent to be a contender if Manuel played well. He didn't.
The second-year signal-caller's benching after just four games in favor of a player signed off the street at the end of the preseason signaled that the team might be ready to move on.
However, receiver Robert Woods told NFL Network's NFL AM on Wednesday morning that Manuel is making progress by learning from Orton.
"Right now we are winning games, we're fighting to get back in the playoff race," Woods said. "Things are different with the two quarterbacks, but EJ's coming along, getting better, improving every day. He's finally seeing someone do it in front of him, seeing how it's done with meetings and on the field. It's just a learning experience and I think he's learning a lot right now."
Woods' comments speak to the belief that some quarterbacks need time to learn the position at a professional level before being thrown in the fire. Not every young quarterback is created equal.
It remains to be seen whether or not Manuel will take the necessary steps in the coming months to convince the coaching staff -- assuming they aren't swept out by new ownership -- to give him another shot.
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