The Buffalo Bills have opted to start Matt Barkley over the interception-prone Nathan Peterman in Sunday’s game at the New York Jets.
Barkley was announced Saturday as the Bills’ starter after the team ruled out rookie first-round quarterback Josh Allen, who will miss his fourth consecutive game because of an elbow injury. The Bills previously ruled out veteran Derek Anderson because of a concussion.
Barkley, whom the Bills signed Oct. 31, will become the team’s fourth starting quarterback in their past five games. It will be the first time since the 1987 strike season in which Buffalo has started four or more quarterbacks in a season.
“He’ll have a tough time because [the Jets] are a good defense and this is a fresh start,” Bills running back LeSean McCoy said Friday of the possibility Barkley could start. “But I don’t think it’s nothing he can’t handle. We’ll support him. We’ll be behind him. I’m sure he’ll have a good game.”
Barkley said Friday he split snaps in practice this week with Allen and Peterman while Anderson remained sidelined.
“I know this game plan as well as a starter needs to know it,” he said.
Coach Sean McDermott said Monday that Peterman would start if neither Allen nor Anderson could play, but by Friday he was no longer committed to Peterman as the starter.
Peterman started last Sunday’s 41-9 loss to the Bears in place of Anderson, who was concussed in the closing minutes of an Oct. 29 loss to the Patriots. Anderson was starting his second consecutive game in place of Allen, who sprained his right elbow in an Oct. 14 loss at Houston.
Peterman completed 31 of 49 passes against Chicago for 188 yards, the fewest yards on as many completions by any NFL quarterback since at least 1950. He also threw three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.
Peterman, who began the season as the Bills’ starter, has thrown 13 interceptions on 133 career regular season and postseason pass attempts. He has thrown three career touchdowns and has thrown three interceptions that have been returned for touchdowns.
Barkley, 28, was a fourth-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013. His only career starts all came for the Chicago Bears in 2016. In six starts, he threw eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions.