HEADLINE

Bills QB Anderson to start vs. Colts

The Sports Xchange

October 17, 2018 at 12:31 pm.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Derek Anderson will start Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, coach Sean McDermott announced Wednesday.

Anderson will get the nod after rookie Josh Allen injured his right elbow in last Sunday’s 20-13 loss to the Houston Texans. McDermott added there is no surgery planned for Allen, who was the seventh overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.

The 35-year-old Anderson signed with the Bills (2-4) last week after spending several seasons backing up Cam Newton with the Carolina Panthers.

“Derek is a guy I worked with in Carolina,” McDermott said. “He brings experience, leadership presence to the table and he’s worked hard over the past week to get up to speed.”

Anderson has played in 76 career NFL games with 47 starts (20-27) and his career completion percentage is an uninspiring 54.1 with 60 touchdowns, 60 interceptions, and a passer rating of 71.1.

McDermott selected Anderson over Nathan Peterman for the start. Peterman threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Zay Jones in the fourth quarter on Sunday that put the Bills ahead 13-10, but two late interceptions — including one that was returned for a touchdown — led to the team’s undoing.

Peterman has nine interceptions in 79 career passing attempts. This season, Peterman has thrown two touchdown passes and five interceptions in 49 pass attempts.

Allen, who is listed at 6-foot-5 and 237 pounds, has completed 75 of 139 passes for 832 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions this season.