Manuel completed just 2 of 7 passes in Sunday's preseason loss to the Giants for 19 yards. The second-year quarterback - as well as much of the first-team offense - played just two drives.

Manuel looked pretty bad in this one and struggled to get the ball to the guy who's supposed to be his new favorite target, Sammy Watkins, as three of those attempts failed to yield a catch. This is Manuel's show to run even if he struggles throughout the preseason, but we'll be looking for some improvement in the coming weeks.

ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reported on SportsCenter that E.J. Manuel added ten pounds of muscle this offseason and is up to 247.

Manuel's Scouting Combine measurement was 6-foot-4 5/8 and 237 pounds. The muscle gain is ostensibly an attempt to improve Manuel's durability after he missed six games as a rookie. Manuel's injuries were to his knee, however. The Bills are hoping for a sophomore leap from Manuel, but we remain skeptical.

Reports on Bills second-year QB E.J. Manuel's OTA and minicamp performance have been decidedly mixed.

A previous ESPN report claimed Manuel was struggling with accuracy and showing a trend of sailing passes high. Another from WGR 550 (linked below) discusses Manuel's inconsistencies and throwing an "easy interception" to UDFA DB Deon Broomfield. We left Manuel's rookie year feeling skeptical of his NFL future.

ESPN Bills reporter Mike Rodak said second-year QB E.J. Manuel struggled with accuracy during OTAs.

Rodak said Manuel had "multiple" passes sail high during the Bills final practice and that had been "a trend during the three weeks of OTAs." The Bills are loaded at offensive skill positions, but Manuel has to play better for Buffalo to reach their full potential. We are not optimistic he will.

E.J. Manuel said he worked out with Colin Kaepernick in the offseason and "just tried to follow his lead."

"The biggest thing for me was improving on situational football and being smarter," Manuel continued. He also said he feels 100 percent after undergoing three knee operations as a rookie. Both Manuel and Kaepernick stand in at 6-foot-5 and roughly 230-235 pounds, though Manuel lacks some of the running ability Kaepernick has. The Bills have a talent-laden roster but need Manuel to make a sophomore leap to surge up the AFC East standings.

E.J. Manuel is working on improving his reads.

"Obviously being a young guy sometimes you would look past somebody in a progression when you could've just held on a half second longer and he may have come open," Manuel said Thursday. "You want to be quick, but you don't want to be too fast where you're just overlooking guys." Manuel has all the physical tools to be a successful NFL quarterback, but has to take a giant leap forward with the more subtle aspects of signal calling.

Coach Doug Marrone said it's now "like a light going off" when talking with the Bills quarterbacks about the offensive playbook.

E.J. Manuel was wildly inconsistent as he digested OC Nathaniel Hackett's offense during his rookie campaign. Now he's in the "advanced stages" of the scheme, according to Marrone. After adding Sammy Watkins and Mike Williams to weaponry that already included C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson and Robert Woods, supporting cast is not an issue. The Bills are betting the house that Manuel can take a major leap forward.

Bills GM Doug Whaley told reporters surrounding E.J. Manuel with as much talent as possible was a high priority.

"It's a quarterback-driven league," said Whaley. "Our main focus is making sure EJ progresses." Most mocks have the Bills taking a tackle at pick No. 9, but a wide receiver makes sense as well. UNC TE Eric Ebron could also be an option. Buffalo has the roster to make a playoff push in 2014 if Manuel is able to improve.

E.J. Manuel (knee surgery) was a full participant in day one of offseason workouts.

Manuel sprained his LCL and missed the final two games of the season before undergoing surgery in January. It was his third knee operation as a rookie. The Bills are "all in" on Manuel for 2014. He needs to be much more consistent as a sophomore. Buffalo has a playoff caliber roster aside from quarterback.

Bills coach Doug Marrone stated at the league meetings Tuesday that E.J. Manuel (knee surgeries) will be ready for all offseason workouts.

It's good news for Manuel, who wasn't ready to play in the NFL as a rookie and additionally suffered three separate knee injuries, two requiring surgery. He was outplayed by Thad Lewis. We're still surprised the Bills were so quiet on the free agent quarterback market. They arguably have a playoff-ready roster at every position save signal caller, right tackle, and free safety.

ESPN's Louis Riddick calls the Bills' quarterback situation "one I could see going off the rails in a bad way very quickly."

Riddick is an avid game-tape watcher and has quickly become one of our favorite football analysts. He believes there are "not many excuses left for Buffalo to not start seriously contending in their division." It's true that the Bills have pieces in place to be an AFC East contender, particularly on defense and in the run game. E.J. Manuel played nearly as poorly as a rookie as Geno Smith, but hasn't received half as much criticism because E.J. plays in a far smaller market. Manuel will have to improve in a major way in 2014 to prevent GM Doug Whaley from going back to the drafting board at quarterback.

E.J. Manuel (left knee scope) plans to wear a brace in 2014.

"I'll probably have to wear a brace from here on out," Manuel said Thursday. "When you have some defenders come down on you, you don't want to have to risk getting whatever type of knee injury. I'll have a brace, but it won't inhibit me still being able to take off and run." Manuel mentioned Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning as players who wear braces, but left out Robert Griffin III. RGIII's brace appeared to inhibit him at times in 2013. Manuel needs to do whatever he can to avoid further knee injuries, but wearing a brace is never ideal.

E.J. Manuel underwent a clean-up procedure on his left knee earlier this month.

The "in-and-out" operation is related to the "minor" knee sprain Manuel suffered in Week 15. Speaking after Week 17, Manuel claimed he was unsure if he'd go under the knife, saying only "physical therapy and strength training" were planned. However, it sounds like the surgery was performed shortly after the season ended. Manuel appears well on track to be ready for the Bills' offseason program, but has now undergone two left-knee procedures since August. He suffered three knee injuries as a rookie. It's definitely a concern for a player who was shaky, at best, as the Bills' starting quarterback. Manuel can't afford to miss any practice reps ahead of 2014.

Bills coach Doug Marrone plans to hire a quarterbacks coach this offseason.

The 2013 Bills made the rare decision to have no QBs coach on staff despite a rookie quarterback, letting rookie OC Nathaniel Hackett double down on the job. "Having just Nathaniel was a very difficult situation, one that we didn't foresee," admitted Marrone. "But it was the situation we were in." Manuel's position coach-less rookie year had more worrisome than promising moments. We're skeptical Manuel will make a major statistical leap in 2014.

Bills coach Doug Marrone plans to expand his team's usage of the passing game in 2014.

Buffalo finished the season 24th in pass attempts and first in rushes, but ranked 22nd in points scored. "We would like to be able to take more shots, throw it more on first down and become more productive from the standpoint of scoring," said Marrone. "Make no mistake, you have to have a better ratio than what we had." The Bills will simultaneously hope overmatched rookie E.J. Manuel is up to the task. He suffered three separate knee injuries in 2013.

At their season-ending pressers Monday, both coach Doug Marrone and GM Doug Whaley threw support behind E.J. Manuel as the Bills' 2014 starter.

"Absolutely," was Whaley's answer. Buffalo made Manuel the 16th pick in April's draft. He went on to suffer three separate knee injuries as a rookie, missing six games and finishing with an 11:9 TD-to-INT ratio. Manuel's skill set reminds of Jake Locker. He is athletic and flashes big-time tools in doses, but has a long way to go as a pocket passer and is ultimately a project.

E.J. Manuel "isn't sure yet" if his most recent knee injury will require surgery.

According to Manuel, all he has planned for now is "physical therapy and strength training." A new operation would be Manuel's second since being the No. 16 overall pick of last April's draft. It's definitely an issue. If Manuel goes under the knife, it would be a major setback were he not ready for OTAs. Few players need a full offseason program more than Buffalo's shaky rookie signal caller.

E.J. Manuel (knee) has been ruled out for Week 17 against the Patriots, and Thad Lewis will make his fifth start of the season.

Coach Doug Marrone said Manuel didn't progress as much as the team had initially expected him to, so Lewis will start again this week. Lewis completed 15-of-25 passes for 193 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in last week's 19-0 win over the Dolphins. He's not a fantasy option. Manuel has now suffered three knee injuries since being drafted. He should be ready for OTAs.

E.J. Manuel (knee) is practicing Thursday.

Manuel appears on track to start Sunday's season finale, but it's worth noting that Thad Lewis was getting the initial first-team reps Thursday. We'll know more after coach Doug Marrone addresses the media.

E.J. Manuel (knee) is practicing Tuesday.

Manuel was held out of Sunday's win over the Dolphins with a left knee sprain. The fact that he was able to practice Tuesday is a positive sign for his chances at returning this week. Barring a setback, the Bills plan to start Manuel for Sunday's game against the Patriots. His status will be updated again on Thursday.