Passed over in the NFL draft in April, quarterback Jeff Tuel settled on signing with the Buffalo Bills a few days later with the sole objective of cracking the team’s roster.
As of Monday, the raw rookie out of Washington State is in line to start in the Bills’ season opener against New England Sept. 8.
“I came here to play football, and that’s what I’m doing,” Tuel said. “It just explains, you can never expect. You never know what’s going to happen in this league.
“It’s why you’ve got to be ready.”
Tuel is in this position because of a string of injuries that have hit the Bills’ quarterback position.
Veteran Kevin Kolb is out indefinitely after sustaining a concussion — the third of his seven-year career — in a 30-7 loss to Washington on Saturday. Then there’s rookie first-round pick EJ Manuel, who might not be ready to play because he’s still recovering from a left knee injury he hurt in a 20-16 win over Minnesota a week earlier.
The Bills did sign free agent Matt Leinart on Sunday, but the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner needs time to become familiar with the offense.
Should Tuel start against New England, he would be the first undrafted rookie directly out of college to start in Week 1 for any team since the NFL merger in 1970, according to STATS LLC.
This is not exactly what rookie coach Doug Marrone envisioned when he intended to have his starter in place within 10 days of the season.
“Well, I don’t know if I’d use the word crazy,” Marrone said. “But I would say a little bit of adversity, for sure.”
Leinart and Thaddeus Lewis each made his practice debut Monday. Lewis was acquired Sunday in a trade that sent linebacker Chris White to Detroit.
In three preseason games, Tuel has combined for 31 of 43 for 299 yards passing, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
