A day after ripping the backup quarterback crew for its play so far this summer, Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone did more than just talk.
After a string of disappointing outings in the team's first four preseason games, Buffalo parted ways with third-year signal-caller Thad Lewis Tuesday, replacing him with veteran Jordan Palmer.
Lewis, who went 2-3 for the Bills last season filling in for E.J. Manuel, completed only 50 percent of his passes and threw two interceptions in his four appearances this season. Palmer, who's seen even less time as a starter in his seven years in the league, was cut by the Chicago Bears Sunday.
"We’ve given ourselves an opportunity, meaning that we’ve given ourselves an opportunity for what we’ve been watching on tape of everyone for Jordan to come in here and show us what he has," Marrone said Tuesday via buffalobills.com. "I think that’s something that, obviously, Doug (Whaley) and I have talked about quite a bit. The scouts have done a good job going through it and I think it’s more of an opportunity, and we’ll see how it goes, and a process than it is where are we right now."
After his comments on the backups Monday, Marrone also noted that the release of kicker Dustin Hopkins and punter Jake Dombrowski didn't mean the special teams crew was going to go competition-free. He proved that as well Tuesday, signing sophomore punter Jordan Gay.
Gay, released by the Panthers two days earlier, has averaged 35 yards per punt this year in his limited opportunities, including a long of 59 yards.
