The Buffalo Bills have downgraded starting quarterback Derek Anderson and starting middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to out for Sunday’s contest against the Chicago Bears. Both players suffered concussions on Monday night against the New England Patriots, and while they both were listed as questionable after Friday’s practice, neither player has progressed to the point where he will be able to play on Sunday.
Anderson will be replaced in the starting lineup by Nathan Peterman. The second-year quarterback will make his fourth NFL start, and will appear in his eighth regular season game (ninth overall). In 2018, Peterman has completed 13-of-32 passes (40.6%) for 108 yards. He has thrown 1 touchdown and 4 interceptions on the year.
Anderson was injured late in the game against New England, absorbing a brutal hit from Kyle Van Noy with less than two minutes remaining. Running back Marcus Murphy assumed that Van Noy would follow him out of the backfield, so he did not attempt to block him, choosing instead to run a short route. Van Noy passed Murphy off to another defender and blitzed Anderson, leveling the 35-year old quarterback and knocking him out of the game.
Edmunds should be replaced in the starting lineup by veteran Julian Stanford. The sixth-year man has appeared in 6 games this year for the Bills, and he has mostly appeared on special teams. He has 2 tackles on the season. For his career, Stanford has appeared in 65 games, making 10 starts. He has 51 total tackles and 4 tackles for loss on his career.
Anderson was injured in the first half when he tried to tackle Patriots’ fullback James Develin. The bruising fullback caught a short pass from Tom Brady and turned upfield. Edmunds met him there, but he took the worst of the hit, as his helmet ricocheted off of Develin’s shoulder pads. Edmunds remained in the game, but was replaced shortly thereafter by Stanford.
Anderson and Edmunds join Josh Allen (elbow) and Trent Murphy (knee) on the list of players ruled out for Sunday’s game.