Bills tab untested Lewis as starting QB
The Buffalo Bills are turning to Thad Lewis as their starter, promoting the untested quarterback off the practice squad.
Coach Doug Marrone said on his weekly show on Buffalo’s WGR-Radio on Monday that Lewis will start Sunday when the Bills host Cincinnati.
Lewis will be filling in for rookie EJ Manuel, who is out indefinitely after spraining his right knee in a loss to Cleveland on Thursday.
The Bills had only one other QB on their roster, undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel out of Washington State, who struggled in replacing Manuel on Thursday. Tuel completed 8 of 20 passes for 80 yards and an interception that was returned for a TD.
Lewis played college ball at Duke and split most of the past three seasons on the St. Louis Rams’ and Browns’ practice squads. He has played one game, a start in Cleveland’s season finale against Pittsburgh last year, when he went 22 of 32 for 204 yards passing with a touchdown and interception.
The Bills acquired Lewis in a trade with Detroit in August after Manuel was sidelined with a left knee injury and veteran Kevin Kolb sustained a season-ending concussion.
NFL to meet with tribe
The NFL says it will meet with representatives of the Oneida Indian Nation from New York that is campaigning for the Washington Redskins to change their nickname.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy says a meeting was scheduled for next month and could happen sooner.
At a symposium held by the tribe, U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., said the league and team are “promoting a racial slur” and “this issue is not going away.”
Raiders win in late show
Terrelle Pryor threw two TD passes in the first quarter and Charles Woodson tied an NFL record with his 13th defensive touchdown as the Oakland Raiders beat the San Diego Chargers 27-17 on Sunday night.
The Raiders (2-3) used four forced turnovers, a goal-line stand, Woodson’s 25-yard return of Danny Woodhead’s fumble and two long field goals by Sebastian Janikowski to beat the Chargers (2-3).
Philip Rivers threw for 411 yards and two TDs with three interceptions for San Diego.
Around the league
Green Bay linebacker Clay Mathews will miss some time after breaking his right thumb in the Packers’ win over the Lions Sunday. Coach Mike McCarthy was unsure how long Mathews will be sidelined. … Jacksonville coach Gus Bradley said he expects quarterback Blaine Gabbert to miss Sunday’s game at Denver because of a strained hamstring suffered in a loss at St. Louis Sunday. Chad Henne will start in his place. … The Jaguars obtained receiver Stephen Williams off waivers from Seattle. The team also waived first-year receiver Jeremy Ebert. … Oakland released quarterback Matt Flynn just six months after being acquired from Seattle for a 2014 fifth-round draft pick and a conditional pick in 2015. … Houston coach Gary Kubiak has confirmed quarterback Matt Schaub will retain his starting role following Sunday’s blowout loss at San Francisco in which he threw three interceptions. … Philadelphia coach Chip Kelly said quarterback Michael Vick is day to day because of a hamstring injury and Nick Foles could win the starting job based on his performance. The Eagles play at Tampa Bay on Sunday. … Minnesota’s starting quarterback this week will be Matt Cassel or Christian Ponder, not recently signed Josh Freeman. Coach Leslie Frazier said there’s not enough time for Freeman to learn the offense and play this weekend at Carolina. Ponder is recovering from a broken rib.