BY NICK ST. DENIS
E.J. Manuel's fate is now in the hands of the Buffalo Bills' head coach, not their doctors.
The Bills' first-round rookie quarterback told reporters Monday that he's been cleared to return to the lineup, according to The Buffalo News, adding that he plans to get in as much practice this week as Bills coach Doug Marrone will allow.
"It's up to coach," he said.
Manuel has missed the team's last four games after suffering a knee injury against the Cleveland Browns at the beginning of October.
He was on the Bills' sideline the last two weeks after spending the prior two games in the coaches' box, and he participated in a portion of the team's on-field warmups Sunday before his team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Florida State product insisted he's been taking the "mental reps" in order to be "smarter" than he was prior to the injury.
Smarter or not, the Bills will be thrilled to get their franchise-QB hopeful back on the game field. Whether he can carry Buffalo out of a 3-6 hole remains to be seen, but getting the reps in the second half of the season will be crucial for his development, regardless.
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