page_title: EJ Manuel
section_title: 2013 season: Rookie year
hierarchical_section_title: EJ Manuel / Professional career / Buffalo Bills / 2013 season: Rookie year
caption_attribution_description: Italiano: Il QB dei Buffalo Bills EJ Manuel durante Patriots-Bills del 2013English: Buffalo Bills QB EJ Manuel during 2013 Patriots-Bills.
context_page_description: Erik Rodriguez "EJ" Manuel Jr. is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at Florida State, leading the Seminoles to an ACC championship and Orange Bowl win in his senior year, and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
  Drafted by the Bills to be their franchise quarterback, Manuel suffered several injuries and saw his on-the-field performance struggle. After starting 10 games in his rookie year and throwing for 1,972 yards and 11 touchdowns, Manuel made just a combined seven starts and threw eight touchdowns over the next three seasons, sitting behind Kyle Orton and Tyrod Taylor on the depth chart. After leaving the Bills, he then spent one year with the Oakland Raiders, sat out the 2018 season and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 before retiring during the offseason that year.
context_section_description: On June 14, 2013, Manuel signed a four-year contract with the Buffalo Bills. The deal is worth a fully guaranteed $8.88 million, including a signing bonus of $4.85 million evenly spaced out annually ($1.2 million) over the next four years. His salary in 2013 was $1.6 million, $2.0 million in 2014, $2.4 million in 2015, and $2.8 million in 2016.
  Manuel made his NFL debut on August 11, 2013, during the preseason against the Indianapolis Colts, completing 16-of-21 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. He underwent an operation on his knee to remove fluid buildup after the second game of the preseason and it was unsure if he would be ready to start the season-opener. On September 4, 2013, head coach Doug Marrone announced at the team meeting that Manuel was confirmed to be the starter for Week 1. In the season opener, Manuel completed his first NFL touchdown to fellow rookie Robert Woods, on an 18-yard completion. On September 15, Manuel engineered his first fourth-quarter comeback, with a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown march to bring his team from a six-point deficit in the fourth quarter with seconds left in the game. The Buffalo Bills went on to win in a Week 2 game against the Carolina Panthers by a score of 24–23. Manuel was voted the "Pepsi Next NFL Rookie of the Week" for his performance.
  On October 3, 2013, during the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns, Manuel sprained his right lateral collateral ligament, causing him to miss the next five weeks of his rookie season. Manuel had an up and down first year, but was given a vote of confidence by coach Doug Marrone as he was announced as the starting quarterback for the 2014 season. In 10 games of his rookie year in 2013, Manuel had 1,972 passing yards with 11 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. In addition, he rushed for 186 yards with two rushing touchdowns.
caption: Manuel passing against the Patriots in 2013
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