/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/18421741/20130816_jla_ah8_266.0.jpg)
EJ Manuel is on track to start for the Buffalo Bills against the New England Patriots in Week 1, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
From Total Access: #Bills rookie EJ Manuel still on track to start Week 1. Trying to figure out Kevin Kolb's viability. Several concussions
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 25, 2013
Bills head coach Doug Marrone has spoken confidently of Manuel's prognosis ever since last weekend, when news first broke of the knee injury that required surgery and kept him out of Saturday's preseason loss to Washington. Manuel will not suit up for Thursday's exhibition finale against Detroit, but pending a final health check later this week prior to the game plan install for Week 1, it appears that the plan is to have the first-round pick under center.
If that ends up happening, who the backup is becomes the next big question as prep work begins for the New England Patriots.