EJ Manuel to get his shot against the Pittsburgh Steelers

EJ Manuel gets his chance to show what he can do when he starts against the Pittsburgh Steelers

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Well EJ Manuel lovers (and haters), the man will finally get his shot with the Buffalo Bills, to show what he can do against the starters. Head coach Rex Ryan announced earlier Thursday afternoon that the third-year player out of Florida State will start the team’s third preseason game on Saturday, when they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

After Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor got their turns in the team’s first two games, the most controversial of the three quarterbacks, with very vocal fan groups both in support and denial of him starting, will get his chance to impress. Ryan showed that he is a man of his word, proving that each quarterback will get an equal opportunity.

Manuel has thrown very well in two long stints against third-stringers, completing 59.1 percent of his passes for 188 yards, at an average of 8.5 yards per completion. Manuel also has the perk as the only one of the three quarterbacks to throw for a touchdown, tossing for a score in each game, including the game-winner in a late, come from behind 11-10 win against the Cleveland Browns.

The 25-year old has struggled over the past couple of seasons, with a lot of fans calling for his exit, but on the surface, the numbers are not that terrible. He has completed 58.6 percent of his passes in 15 regular season games over the last two seasons, throwing 16 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 78.5 passer rating.

With 17 days to go until the season opener at Ralph Wilson Stadium, time is running out to find a starter. Manuel is looking to impress in the third preseason game (the one where the starters traditionally play the most), and lock up the job for the third consecutive season. Maybe this will be the year he finally plays a full season as well.

Next: Is Rex Ryan's bravado bad for the Bills?

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