FOOTBALL FRIDAY
Losman takes reins again
J. P. Losman has gone from starting quarterback to afterthought on the Buffalo Bills’ roster. But on Sunday, he’ll return to the spotlight.
Because of Trent Edwards’ groin injury, Losman is expected to get his first start in more than a year when the Bills host the Miami Dolphins in Toronto.
Edwards hasn’t been officially ruled out, but he hasn’t practiced this week. So a guy the Bills benched now holds the fate of their season in his hands.
“It’s exciting knowing that it’s a possibility,” Losman said. “And we’ll find out.”
Losman has appeared in two games this season as an injury replacement. He played almost the entire game during a 41-17 Week Five loss at Arizona after Edwards was knocked out with a concussion on the first offensive series. Losman completed 15 of 21 passes for 220 yards while running and throwing for a touchdown. He also threw an interception.
Losman stepped in again last Sunday after Edwards hurt his groin in the first half and was 11 of 17 for 112 yards in a 10-3 loss to San Francisco.
In both cases, Losman played with minimal practice repetitions. That won’t be the case against the Dolphins as he has gotten all the snaps with the first-team offense.
“It should be 100 times better, more comfortable,” he said. “It should be 100 times better all around for everybody, them hearing my voice, cadence, calling the plays, everything. Everything is going to be much, much better, much more fluid if the quarterback is able to prepare himself one week knowing he’s the guy.
“It’s not easy coming to work knowing that you’re not getting the reps, you’re not practicing, you’re not participating, it’s hard to feel a part of the team, all those things. And all of a sudden, you get thrown back in the fire last week, and in an instant it all snaps back. Guys are looking to you for the answers. You’re back in the position that you want to be in. It’s very, very fun. It’s the greatest job in the world.”
For Losman, having an opportunity to help keep the Bills’ fading playoff hopes alive is foremost in his mind. But the importance of his performance goes beyond that.
This is the final year of the contract he signed as a first-round draft pick in 2004, but there is virtually no chance he’ll be back with the Bills. He wants to be a full-time starter again, and that’s only going to happen somewhere else.
While Losman wouldn’t say it, Sunday’s game will be an audition for the NFL teams seeking help at quarterback next year.
“Oh yeah, no doubt,” Bills wide receiver Lee Evans said. “You never really know what the future holds, so regardless if it is here or somewhere else, it’s a chance for him to come out here and play and show everybody, the rest of the league, not just us, what he can do.”
Losman downplayed the impact this game could have on his future employment. He said he’s focused more on just winning the game.
Losman is 3-1 against the Dolphins, completing 49 of 86 passes for 664 yards with seven touchdowns, two interceptions and a 99.2 QB rating.
“That’s something you definitely think about,” Bills head coach Dick Jauron said. “We’ll just have to see how that whole thing goes as the week progresses. But we’ve got a lot of confidence in J. P. He’s got experience in the league and he’s proven that he can win in the league in a big game and this is a big game.”
The Bills weren’t too confident in Losman when they benched him in favor of Edwards, citing Losman’s erratic play and Edwards’ flashes of brilliance as a rookie. Impressed by Edwards’ poise, accuracy and good decision-making, the Bills awarded him the job permanently after last season’s 11th game.
Losman reportedly asked for a trade through his agent after the season. It is not known if the Bills fielded any offers, but they ultimately concluded that having two experienced quarterbacks was the better option even if it meant losing him after this season without getting anything in return.
“It is a test of patience,” Losman said. “Waiting and waiting, trying to be ready, trying to study as hard as possible, knowing the chances are slim to none but possible.”
