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The Buffalo Bills are dealing with injuries and uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position ahead of their Week 6 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Buffalo is off to a fairly surprising 3-2 start this season thanks in large part to the emergence of Tyrod Taylor. The longtime Ravens backup has been the driving force behind the Bills' offense this season, despite injuries to star players LeSean McCoy and Sammy Watkins.
It's possible both of those guys may not play this week while dealing with injuries, and Taylor may also join them as an ankle injury is threatening his availability for Sunday's big game. That's why Buffalo is bringing in former Bengals backup Josh Johnson to give them an emergency option at quarterback in the event Taylor is unable to play.
As Fox Sports' Mike Garafolo and Jay Glazer reported, this could signal that Taylor may be unable to play this week, which would force EJ Manuel into the starting lineup.
Bills sign QB Josh Johnson, team announced. Tyrod Taylor is hurting. EJ Manuel might very well start Sunday.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 13, 2015
Rex mentioned how hurt Tyrod is. @JayGlazer reported recently Taylor's ankle worse than we know. Johnson signing = EJ time? Team mulling.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 13, 2015
Bills beat writer Vic Carucci is reporting that the team is preparing as if Taylor won't even be available for Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
#NFL source: "Apparently Tyrod Taylor is hurt pretty bad." #Bills checked passport status of potential QB additions for Week 7 London trip.
— Vic Carucci (@viccarucci) October 13, 2015
#Bills wanted to sign Matt Simms, bc he knows their playbook, but he turned them down. Thinks he has better future on #Falcons PS.
— Vic Carucci (@viccarucci) October 13, 2015
Manuel opened the season as Taylor's backup after the team traded away Matt Cassel to the Dallas Cowboys. If Taylor can't play Sunday, Manuel would likely start with Johnson being his backup. Head coach Rex Ryan admitted Taylor was beat up following Sunday's 14-13 win over the Tennessee Titans, as he told Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News
"I can tell you this: He is beat up right now," Ryan said. "He's sore. You ought to see him — he is sore. We knew he would be. Guys, he hasn't been 100 percent all season.We all know he finished the game, but we'll see how he's doing. We'll be looking at him throughout the week and everybody else that we have. He's sore now, I can tell you that much."
Even if Taylor is able to play, Johnson offers them value even as a third-stringer. Johnson spent the entire 2013 season as the Bengals' No. 2 QB and was with the Bengals for training camp this year. He'd obviously offer Buffalo some inside info on the Bengals' offense and how Ryan could coordinate his defense to better defend against them.