Kevin Kolb may have played his last down in the NFL.
The Buffalo Bills quarterback who has struggled with injuries throughout his career left Saturday’s preseason game against the Washington Redskins after suffering a head injury . Though the team has released few details so far, sources close to the organization say the team fears the latest concussion could be career-ending for Kevin Kolb.
Kolb was brought in during the offseason to compete for the starting quarterback job, but had been outplayed by rookie EJ Manuel through most of training camp. Kolb also missed large chunks of the team’s practice time, first with a freak knee injury he suffered when slipping on a wet mat and then when a family member died.
In the time away it appeared that Manuel had seized the starting job , but then the Florida State rookie quarterback went down with a knee injury that is keeping him out of the rest of the preseason.
Thought there are reports that Manuel will be ready for the team’s season opener against the New England Patriots, Kevin Kolb was ready as a backup plan.
Now, with Kolb’s injury and the uncertainty with Manuel, the team is searching the free-agent ranks for a placeholder. The Bills scheduled tryouts with John Beck and Matt Leinart.
The Bills also have third-string rookie quarterback Jeff Tuel, who has showed flashes of strong play, and wide receiver Brad Smith can serve as an emergency quarterback.
Source tells me Bills concerned Kevin Kolb’s concussion may be career-ending and they’re proceeding with that in mind.
— Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) August 25, 2013
But the injury to Kevin Kolb has thrown a wrench in the Bills plans for this year. Though Manuel was expected to take the starting job eventually, Kolb would have served as a mentor and a steady hand to take over if Manuel encountered struggles.