Bills bench Peterman, tab veteran Anderson to start at QB vs. Colts

The Buffalo Bills will start veteran Derek Anderson over Nathan Peterman at quarterback Sunday versus the Indianapolis Colts, head coach Sean McDermott announced Wednesday.

Anderson obtained the starting nod just eight days after signing with the Bills. He was brought in to help mentor Buffalo's quarterbacks, but found himself in contention to start once rookie Josh Allen injured his elbow against the Houston Texans and the extraordinarily turnover-prone Peterman threw two interceptions in his place.

A second medical opinion confirmed Allen shouldn't require surgery on his sprain and he is still week to week, McDermott said.

Anderson, 35, served as Cam Newton's backup for the last seven seasons with the Carolina Panthers. His last full game as a starter came Oct. 10, 2016, when he led the Panthers into battle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Anderson started Dec. 4, 2016, but he only threw one pass before being replaced by Newton, who began the game on the bench for disciplinary reasons.)

"I'm always going to do what I feel is right for this football team," McDermott told reporters, according to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News, when asked if he was worried about possibly losing the trust of his players if he turned back to Peterman. "I certainly trust and have a heck of a lot of respect for our locker room."

Anderson and the Bills will face a Colts team ranked 26th and 30th in passing and scoring defense, respectively.