NFL Player News

With Thad Lewis (ribs) listed as doubtful on the injury report, The Bills will name Jeff Tuel the starting quarterback for Week 9 at home against the Chiefs, CBSSports.com NFL Insider Jason la Canfora reports Saturday. Matt Flynn will be listed as the No. 2 quarterback.

Tuel's only appearance of the season came in Week 5 when he relieved an injured EJ Manuel in the third quarter against the Browns. He completed 8 of 20 passes for 80 yards with an interception. It'll be his first career start under center.

It appears that Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith will have his typical complement of receivers available Sunday. That means, as usual, Santonio Holmes (hamstring) has been ruled out. He will have missed five straight games.

But fellow wideouts David Nelson (quad), Jeremy Kerley (illness) and Stephen Hill (foot) have all been listed as probable. Wide receiver Greg Salas (knee) is also probable and could play for the first time this year against New Orleans.

Thad Lewis had been deemed a 50/50 possibility to play for the Bills Sunday against Kansas City, but the percentage has dropped considerably against his availability. Doug Marrone has placed his status as doubtful for the game with a rib injury.

Lewis returned to practice on Friday, but didn't throw the ball during the open media period of the session. His streak of three straight starts has almost certainly come to an end.

It appears that the battle for the Bills starting quarterback job Sunday against Kansas City is down to two. Doug Marrone officially ruled out E.J. Manuel (knee) and proclaimed Thad Lewis (ribs) doubtful on Friday.

That leaves Jeff Tuel and Matt Flynn as the most likely starters. They have shared first-team reps in practice throughout the week.

It seemed that the Bills muddled quarterback situation received a bit of clarity on Friday when Thad Lewis (ribs) returned to practice. But Lewis was not throwing passes during the media availability portion of the session, which leads to speculation that Jeff Tuel or Matt Flynn will start Sunday against Kansas City. They shared first-team reps Wednesday and Thursday.

Lewis started the last three games in relief of E.J. Manuel, who remains out with a knee injury despite his limited practice participation this week. Lewis has enjoyed some success. He has completed 62 of 103 passes for 652 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

The Bills will decide on a starting quarterback for Week 9 Friday.

The team has to decide between Thad Lewis, Jeff Tuel and Matt Flynn against the Chiefs. Lewis is dealing with back and rib injuries, and will be evaluated Friday. If he's able to go, he'll start. Otherwise, the team will have to turn to either Tuel or Flynn. Head coach Doug Marrone added that he'll go with the player who gives the team the best chance to win.

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill was solid, but unspectacular Thursday against the Bengals, as he failed to throw a touchdown pass in a Week 9 19-17 win.

Tannehill completed 20 of 28 passes for 208 yards, and after tossing four interceptions in his previous two games, opted to play it safe. He didn't take many risks in the passing game, and as a result, finished the game with no passing touchdowns or interceptions. He did rush for a score on a QB sneak in the first half, his lone run of the game.

Tannehill has 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions in eight games, while passing for 1,977 yards, while completing 60.6 percent of his passes. The Dolphins face the Buccaneers next, in Week 10. 

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton topped the 300-yard mark for the fourth straight game Thursday against the Dolphins, but that was about all he did well in a 22-20 overtime loss in Week 9.

After passing for 11 touchdowns in his previous three games, Dalton was held out of the end zone. He turned the ball over four times -- three times on interceptions and once via fumble -- while completing 32 of 53 passes for 338 yards.

Dalton has passed for 300-plus yards in the last four games, after failing to do so in he team's first five games. He will try to bounce back from his poor showing in the next game, when the Bengals take on the Ravens in Week 10. 

After a convincing debut against a tough Kansas City defense, Texans quarterback Case Keenum was named the starter over Matt Schaub for Sunday's Week 9 showdown at home against the Colts.

Keenum completed 15 of 25 passes for 271 yards with a touchdown against the Chiefs his last time out in Week 7. Fresh off a bye week, he'll face a Indianapolis defense that has allowed 228.4 passing yards per game, which ranks 13th this season. Opposing quarterbacks have scored 15.71 Fantasy points per game against the Colts this season.

Keenum could be worth a look in deeper Fantasy leagues, especially owners seeking a bye week replacement option. Our Fantasy experts have him ranked as high as 16th this week against the Colts.

Despite his absence from practice the last two days, Bills quarterback Thad Lewis has a 50-50 chance of being active for the game Sunday against Kansas City.

Doug Marrone said Thursday that he has yet to decide if Lewis (ribs, flu) will make his third straight start in place of the injured E.J. Manuel.