ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Kelly Holcomb will start for the Buffalo Bills at quarterback against Denver on Saturday in place of the injured J.P. Losman.
Coach Mike Mularkey made the announcement Wednesday after Losman missed his second straight practice. He hurt his right shoulder and
left leg in the 35-7 loss to New England last Sunday but continued
playing.
The game Saturday is Buffalo's home finale. The Bills (4-9) are already out of playoff contention and face a Broncos team (10-3)
that needs a win to clinch a playoff berth.
Losman watched the team practice inside Ralph Wilson Stadium in subfreezing temperatures. It's not clear when he was hurt against
the Patriots, but he was sacked twice and knocked down numerous
times by a blitz-happy Patriots defense.
He began bouncing passes to receivers as the game progressed, finishing 10-of-27 for 181 yards and a career-worst three interceptions. His 37.0 quarterback rating was his worst of the
season.
Losman, the second of Buffalo's two first-round draft picks in 2004, was awarded the starting job in February, leading the Bills to release veteran Drew Bledsoe, now the starter in Dallas.
After leading Buffalo to a season-opening 22-7 win over Houston, Losman has lost seven consecutive starts. Benched after four starts
this season, Losman regained his starting job after leading Buffalo
to a 14-3 win over Kansas City on Nov. 13, filling in after Holcomb
sustained a concussion in the second quarter.
The Bills are 2-2 when Holcomb starts and finishes a game this season. The 10-year journeyman backup is 86-of-127 for 815 yards,
with six touchdowns and three interceptions.
Mularkey held out hope that Losman could at least serve as a backup against the Broncos. But he added that will depend whether he can practice on Thursday, the team's final full session before the game.
Mularkey said medical tests on Losman's shoulder Tuesday were negative.