Derek

Anderson

After being drafted in the sixth-round in 2005 by the Baltimore Ravens, Anderson received his first shot as a starter with the Browns in 2007, which ended being the best season of his career. Anderson ultimately settled in as a backup quarterback, mostly with the Carolina Panthers, but he spent season No. 13 with the Buffalo Bills last year. Anderson’s career ends with 60 touchdown passes and 64 interceptions. As for now, Matt Barkley is Josh Allen’s backup in Buffalo.

Anderson was set to be a free agent. This deal will keep him in Buffalo through the offseason and training camp, but it is not a given he makes the 53-man roster in 2019.

Anderson has cleared the concussion protocol, but he is still inactive behind Josh Allen and Matt Barkley. Buffalo also declared LeSean McCoy (hamstring), Chris Ivory (shoulder), TE Logan Thomas (hamstring), CB Ryan Lewis (concussion), OG Vlad Ducasse, and S Dean Marlowe inactive for Week 15.

It is his first practice since suffering a concussion in Week 8. With Josh Allen trending toward playing, Anderson will be the No. 2 at best if he is able to get cleared.

There never seemed to be much hope Anderson would return this week. Josh Allen, who will be limited on Friday, at least has a shot to play. If he cannot, the Bills will have to stick with Nathan Peterman. Fire up the Jets DST.

Anderson took two sacks for a loss of seven yards. The 35-year-old looked like he’d rather be on a golf course somewhere than playing football, committing as many turnovers (four) as Andrew Luck had touchdown passes. Anderson mostly kept it together in the first half, completing 11-of-14 throws for 90 yards and an interception. He went into self-destruct mode after that, however, continually forcing difficult throws into tight windows. That’s an ill-advised strategy when your best receivers are a noticeably checked-out Kelvin Benjamin and draft bust Zay Jones. The fact that Anderson, a street free agent who barely knows the playbook, seemed like a markedly better option than Nathan Peterman shows just how bleak Buffalo’s quarterback situation has gotten. With Josh Allen’s elbow still healing, Anderson could draw another start next week against the Patriots, winners of four straight, on Monday Night Football.

Anderson was expected to sit out this week and probably still will, though it’s interesting that the Bills have yet to officially rule him out. The veteran was concussed in Monday’s loss to New England and hasn’t practiced since. Despite his questionable listing, we’re betting Nathan Peterman will be under center Sunday when the Bills host Chicago.

Anderson, who still plays in the NFL somehow, has been battling back and calf injuries. He’s already been announced as the Bills’ Week 8 starter despite a dreadful performance last week at Indianapolis. Buffalo’s offense was in dire straights even before Josh Allen got hurt. Now that Anderson is running the show, the situation is bordering on catastrophic.

Anderson was nightmarishly bad in Week 7 against the Colts, but the Bills have already said he will be out there against Tom Brady and the Patriots on Monday. That’s how bad Nathan Peterman is. There’s always a chance injury or performance sends 35-year-old Anderson to the bench on Monday. He’s not two-quarterback league viable.

Anderson has to get his own clearance, of course, but this was McDermott reiterating the 35-year-old journeyman is ahead of Nathan Peterman on the depth chart. Peterman threw three more interceptions on Sunday, including a pick six. If Anderson does play, it would be good news for Kelvin Benjamin against the Jets.