The Buffalo Bills have made a change at quarterback.
Coach Doug Marrone announced Monday that Kyle Orton will replace EJ Manuel as the starter when the Bills visit the Detroit Lionson Sunday. Marrone said he came to his decision Monday afternoon.
"I didn't ask (the front office) for an agreement," Marrone said, via ESPN.com. "I just went in and said this is the direction I'm going."
Marrone wouldn't commit to Orton for the rest of the season. The coach said the decision to start Orton was made to help the team make a long-term decision moving forward.
"(We) can't keep going in direction that we're going," Marrone said.
Manuel -- a first-round pick in 2013 -- continued his struggles in a Week 4 loss to the Houston Texans, throwing two interceptions, including a pick-six to J.J. Watt. In four starts, Manuel completed 58 percent of his passes with five touchdowns, three interceptions and a passer rating of 80.3. The Bills are 2-2.
On Monday, running back C.J. Spiller threw his support behind Manuel in comments that appeared in a story posted to the Bills' official website shortly before Marrone's announcement.
"People are going to try to divide us and point fingers saying who should start and who shouldn't start, but we have all the confidence in the world that he'll get the job done," Spiller said. "Yesterday was one that just got away from him. He'll learn from his mistakes, he takes it tough. But he'll be fine, we'll back him and we'll make sure he's ready for Detroit."
Ready or not, it's Kyle Orton time in Buffalo.
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