E.J. Manuel

Bills beat writer Mike Rodak on WR Sammy Watkins: Watkins has been up and down through the first three games. He had a quiet opener, broke out for eight catches and a touchdown in Week 2 and went quiet again in Week 3. After making a few highlight-reel catches in training camp and generally impressing anybody who watched those practices, Watkins took a hit in the preseason that bruised his ribs. Last week, more than a month after that initial hit, he called it a "nagging" injury but downplayed its effect on his performance. While I think Watkins is still very much bothered by his ribs -- there was a play at the end of last Sunday's game where he clearly looked to be avoiding contact -- it's not the entire story to his slower-than-expected start. Part of the blame has to fall on E.J. Manuel, whose inaccuracy has made life more difficult for Watkins.