Buffalo Bills release Matt Flynn, sign Evan Rodriguez

In another sign that starting quarterback EJ Manuel is soon to return to action for the Buffalo Bills, the team on Monday released fourth-stringer Matt Flynn, replacing him on the 53-man roster with free agent fullback Evan Rodriguez.

Flynn, you'll recall, was signed by the Bills after Manuel sprained his LCL in a Week 5 loss to Cleveland. In his four weeks with the team, Flynn was inactive for three games, then served as the backup to undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel in yesterday's 23-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. His release leaves the Bills with a depth chart of Manuel, Thad Lewis and Tuel moving forward.

Rodriguez is a second-year player out of Temple, and a fourth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2012. The 6'2", 239-pound athlete is a hybrid player, one part lead blocker and one part receiver, similar to a player like Dorin Dickerson that had been with the Bills for more than a year. Rodriguez appeared in 12 games as a rookie in Chicago, but didn't make it to his second training camp there thanks to two alcohol-related arrests this past off-season. One would imagine that his arrival on the roster would impact two players specifically: fullback Frank Summers and tight end Chris Gragg.

Bills head coach Doug Marrone will address the quarterback situation in his routine Monday afternoon press conference, which may provide more clarity on the Manuel situation as it pertains to Week 10.