Trent Edwards Remains Starting QB for Bills

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Buffalo Bills head coach Dick Jauron will announce today that rookie quarterback Trent Edwards will retain his role as the team’s starting QB even though J.P. Losman is fully recovered from a sprained knee and is healthy and able to play. I’ll be in the press box Sunday when the Bills host the Baltimore Ravens. Trent will have his work cut out for him against the NFL’s 4th best defense. The Ravens are especially tough against the run (66.7 ypg), so Trent will have to make some big throws in this game. He’s worked with a pretty conservative game plan in his first two starts (not necessarily a bad thing), but he will need to take some shots down the field to keep the Ravens’ D honest.

Trent has played well and has certainly shown signs of great ability. I’ve seen him make some very veteran, very big league throws. And I’ve seen him make some rookie mistakes. Neither is surprising. When I consider the atmosphere he played in last Monday night against the Cowboys — in front of the whole world against one of the league’s best teams — I was especially impressed with his poise and courage in the pocket. I don’t think he will face another situation as difficult, at least mentally, this year. He’s got a couple starts under his belt and I think Trent will just continue to improve with each game.

Clearly, this move sends a message that Trent Edwards is the QB of the future (and obviously the present) for the Bills. And J.P. Losman’s days in Buffalo could very well be numbered even though he’s under contract through the 2008 season. I am not in complete agreement with this move, though. I think J.P. gives the team their best chance to win right now, but I trust that owner Ralph Wilson and the coaching staff knows what they are doing and I’m sure they have very good reasons to give the nod to Trent.

I will say that J.P. has handled the situation in a very professional manner thus far. He said that no matter what the coach’s decision was, he had made a commitment to the team to be there for them and he would continue to do just that. He also said that he is good friends with and supports Trent. It was really a classy mix of words by J.P. in an obviously tough situation. And, of course, he’s just one play from being back under center should Trent perform poorly or be hurt, so I’m sure he’ll be prepared for whatever might happen.