ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Thad Lewis is out and Jordan Palmer is in following the Buffalo Bills late preseason shuffle of backup quarterbacks. Palmer was signed Tuesday, two days after being cut by the Chicago Bears, where he lost the backup competition to Jimmy Clausen. In five NFL seasons, Palmer has appeared in just four games and completed 10 of 15 passes for 59 yards and two interceptions. Lewis release comes as a surprise after he went 2-3 last year while filling in for injured rookie starter EJ Manuel. Acquired in a trade with Detroit last August, Lewis went 93 of 157 for 1,092 yards passing with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Lewis, however, struggled during training camp and fell behind Jeff Tuel in the competition for the No. 2 job. Coach Doug Marrone said he was disappointed in Lewis play, which led the team reaching the conclusion that Palmer might provide more potential despite having less playing time. "Could Jordan be a better player than Thad? Yes, he could," Marrone said. "And were going to find that out and well make a decision." Marrone said Palmer is expected to get extensive playing time on Thursday, when Buffalo (1-3) closes its preseason hosting the Detroit Lions (2-1). And Marrone said it was premature to suggest that Lewis departure meant Tuel has secured the No. 2 spot for Buffalos season opener at Chicago on Sept. 7. In a separate move, the Bills placed starting linebacker Kiko Alonso on the reserve/non-football injury list. The second-year player is expected to miss the season after tearing a ligament in his left knee working out in Oregon on July 1. After spending much of the past two months rehabbing on his own, Alonso is now working out at the Bills renovated facility in Orchard Park. Palmer is the younger brother of Arizona Cardinals starter Carson Palmer. He was selected by Washington in the sixth round of the 2007 draft, but failed to make the Redskins roster. Palmer then spent three seasons in Cincinnati and another in Jacksonville before signing with the Bears. Despite his lack of playing time, Palmer has developed a reputation for mentoring quarterbacks. Earlier this year, he oversaw Blake Bortles pre-draft workout during Central Floridas pro day. Bortles was selected third overall by Jacksonville. Palmer is also familiar with Manuel. Palmer was an assistant and worked with Manuel at former quarterback Trent Dilfers camp three years ago. "Its great to be reunited with him," Palmer said. "Im here to compete, and Im here to serve and help in any way I can." The backup spot in Buffalo has been unsettled since Marrone took over last year. And the latest shuffle leaves Marrone and general manager Doug Whaley open to being second-guessed as to why they failed to add an experienced veteran this off-season. Last season, injuries to Manuel (knee) and veteran backup Kevin Kolb (season-ending concussion) led to the Bills scrambling to fill the position. They signed Matt Leinart, who was cut after struggling in his lone preseason appearance, acquired Lewis and signed free agent Dennis Dixon, who spent last year on the teams practice squad. The Bills stuck with Lewis and Tuel as their backups this off-season with the expectation both can grow and develop because of their familiarity with receivers and the offensive system. Buffalos offence has lacked finish this preseason no matter whos been at quarterback. The Manuel-led starters combined for four field goals on their first 18 possessions before finally scoring touchdowns on consecutive third-quarter drives in a 27-14 loss to Tampa Bay last weekend. Melky Cabrera Jersey . PAUL, Minn – The clock lingered for what seemed like an interminable two minutes and 51 seconds before Mark Fraser finally escaped to the bench during a wildly one-sided first period of an eventual loss to Boston. Melky Cabrera Pirates Jersey . It will be their 15th head-to-head meeting and fourth in the post-season (Sunday at 2pm et/11am pt on CTV) and for his part, Brady isnt downplaying just how big the game is for him. "Im excited - Its everything you could ask for as an athlete," the New England Patriots quarterback told WEEI Radio in Boston on Monday. http://www.pittsburghpiratesprostore.us/...pirates-jersey/. However, Therrien added that Galchenyuks status for next Wednesdays game against the Detroit Red Wings is questionable. Galchenyuk has been out since Jan. 6 with a broken right hand. JB Shuck Jersey . -- Creighton apparently has Villanovas number. Willie Stargell Pirates Jersey . A 23-year-old rookie, Stroman is 4-2 with a 3.44 earned run average in 12 games this season, the past seven of those being starts. He logged the first scoreless outing of his career on Friday versus Oakland in a no-decision.With the NBA season approaching, TSN 1050s Josh Lewenberg and Duane Watson look ahead and preview the 2013-14 Raptors in this weeks Raptors Report podcast. Josh and Duane tackle the teams keys to success for this coming season, make some bold predictions and weigh in on the weekly poll question, with some help from Twitter: What will the Raps need to do to make the playoffs? Raptors Report: Season Preview ' ' '