ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills monthlong shuffle at quarterback is coming to an end after rookie starter EJ Manuel returned to practice Wednesday. Manuels presence on the field, and the expectation that hell be ready to step in immediately and start against the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6) on Sunday, has provided the Bills a much-needed lift. "Yeah, were excited to get EJ back," centre Eric Wood said. "Hopefully, it gives us a boost, offensively." And dont underestimate the importance of Manuel re-establishing stability at a position that was mostly unsettled in the four weeks since the first-round draft pick out of Florida State sprained his right knee. "Hes the guy that we wanted to be back there, and weve got him back there now," running back Fred Jackson said. "To get some stability there, a guy thats going to be there for the remainder of the season hopefully is something that can help this offence move in the right direction." The Bills (3-6) were going nowhere in losing three of four without Manuel, who was hurt in a 37-24 loss at Cleveland on Oct. 3. The injury prompted a scramble by the team to find a capable replacement at a position where Buffalo lacked experienced depth. Journeyman Thad Lewis was promoted from the practice squad to take over as interim starter after undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel struggled filling in for Manuel against the Browns. Lewis went 1-2 before he was sidelined by bruised ribs, which led to Tuel making his first career start in a 23-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend. Tuels inexperience was once again evident against the Chiefs. He threw two interceptions, the second one returned 100 yards for a touchdown in a game where Buffalo squandered a 10-3 halftime lead and outgained Kansas City 470-210. Manuel was cleared to play earlier this week after spending most of last week working out individually. On Wednesday, Manuel showed no signs of a limp while dropping back to pass, and he completed several throws into gusty winds during a 20-minute portion of practice open to the media. "Yeah, very confident. Pushing off it fine. Running around and making plays," Manuel said. "Its still up to coach as far as what we want to do as a team, but I definitely feel confident going into Sunday." Coach Doug Marrone liked what he saw, and acknowledged that Manuel is expected to start barring any setbacks. "From a standpoint of being healthy, hes fine," Marrone said. "Now its just to the point of really trying to get him back." Plan B would be starting Lewis, who also returned to practice Wednesday. Manuel might not have all that much more experience than Lewis or Tuel. But he has had the most time in learning Marrones offence, and showed a capability of running it in going 2-2 before he was hurt. In four-plus games, Manuel went 85 of 150 for 985 yards passing with five touchdowns with three interceptions and a lost fumble. Lewis and Tuel combined to produce similar numbers in going 88 of 162 for 961 yards and four touchdowns. They struggled in protecting the ball by committing eight giveaways: five interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns; and three lost fumbles. At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Manuel has a strong arm and provides an element of mobility to the Bills up-tempo attack. The only issue with him is avoiding hits, as happened against Cleveland when he elected to keep running rather than get out of bounds before being struck in the right knee by safety Tashaun Gipson. Manuel also missed the final two preseason games with a left knee injury. Manuel is defensive when it comes to answering questions about his running style. He went so far as to describe his latest injury as "a freak accident." "If I lifted my knee up a half-inch more it wouldnt have been a problem," he said. Manuel added it hasnt been yet determined whether hell play with a protective brace. Aaron Gordon Jersey . "I dont know where we would be without him," McClendon said. "Hes done a tremendous job for us and (Wednesday) was no different." Logan Morrison drove in two runs in Seattles big sixth inning, Young pitched seven strong innings and the Mariners beat the Houston Astros 5-2 to complete a three-game sweep. Grant Hill Jersey .com) - Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll knows about life in the NFL from other stints around the league. http://www.magicauthentic.com/customized/.ca has you covered for whos in, whos out and what to expect from all 30 teams. Jason Williams Jersey .Y. -- Nothing seems to phase No. Dwight Howard Jersey . -- Chris Tillman paid no attention to the Baltimore bullpen as it started to stir in the ninth inning. PITTSBURGH -- The injury-ravaged Pittsburgh Penguins keep winning. Sidney Crosby scored his 20th goal of the season Saturday, helping the Penguins win their season-high seventh straight game, 4-3 over the Calgary Flames. "Winning always makes things better," Crosby said. "Theres no secret there. It doesnt matter what team you play on, winning solves everything." The Penguins, who lead the Eastern Conference with 55 points, played without star centre Evgeni Malkin and five of their top six defencemen for the fourth straight game, but that didnt stop them from winning their 10th straight at home and picking up their 12th victory in 13 games. "We do our best to chip in and get through this," Crosby said. "Its not common, youre not used to being in this situation, but just having the mindset of going out there to outwork the other team has done us well." Crosby, who had a goal and two assists, extended his season-high points streak to 10 games. He leads the league with 54 points. Pascal Dupuis added his seventh goal of the season, Harry Zolnierczyk scored his first with the team and James Neal added a goal. Mike Cammalleri scored his first goal in nine games for the Flames. Jiri Hudler netted his 10th, and Paul Byron had the other goal. The Flames have lost four straight and six of their last nine. "We never quit," Flames coach Bob Hartley said. "We kept going at the net. With a little luck, maybe we could have gotten the tying goal. Its a tough loss to swallow." Pittsburgh jumped to a two-goal lead and went up 4-1 on goals from Crosby and Neal. But Calgary scored twice -- Cammalleri with 45 seconds left in the second period and Hudler 1:03 into the third period to make it 4-3. The Flames came up empty on an ensuing power play and continued to press for the tying goal. Their best chance came with 6:25 remaining when Joe Colborne hit the post to the right of goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who won his 21st game of the season. "They had more than one good opportunity around our net, and certainly the one that went off the post," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma saiid.dddddddddddd. Despite all their injuries, the Penguins have been better than any other team in the league since Nov. 18, registering the most wins and points during that span. Theyve done it playing from ahead too as Pittsburgh has trailed for just 3:12 in its past nine games. Dupuis and Zolnierczyk scored 1:19 apart midway through the first period, staking the Penguins to another early two-goal lead. The Penguins are an NHL-best 17-3 at home and 22-2 when scoring first. Malkin, who injured his left leg last Saturday at Detroit, skated the past two days and could return after Christmas. Penguins defenceman Rob Scuderi (broken ankle) and forward Tanner Glass (broken hand) also could return soon during an upcoming stretch in which Pittsburgh plays seven of its next nine on the road. Additionally, Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik passed a concussion test Friday and practiced for the first time since Dec. 7 when he was pushed to the ice by Bruins forward Shawn Thornton. Thornton, who punched Orpik while he was down, was suspended by the NHL for 15 games. The Flames, who just finished a five-game road trip, could be without two key players when they return to Canada for a five-game homestand that starts Monday against St. Louis. Assistant captain Curtis Glencross left early in the first period, injuring his left knee after an awkward fall into the boards. Glencross, who needed assistance to the dressing room, remained on the ice until the whistle, but couldnt put weight on his leg. Flames defenceman Kris Russell, playing in his 400th career game, also left in the third period with a leg injury. Hartley did not have an injury update after the game, noting both will be evaluated on Sunday. "The fact that they didnt come back is not good news," Hartley said. "Theyre two great leaders, but at the same time there is nothing we can do about injuries." NOTES: The Penguins signed backup goalie Jeff Zatkoff to a two-year contract extension. ... The Flames scratched Blair Jones, T.J. Galiardi and Christopher Breen; Brian Gibbons sat for Pittsburgh. ... Pittsburgh travels to Ottawa on Monday. Wholesale USA Soccer Jerseysdiscount uswnt jerseyWholesale AC Milan JerseysWholesale Arsenal JerseysWholesale A.S. Roma JerseysWholesale Atletico Madrid JerseysWholesale Chelsea JerseysCheap Barcelona JerseysBayern Munich Jerseys For SaleCheap Borussia Dortmund JerseysCheap Inter Milan JerseysJuventus Jerseys From ChinaLeicester City Jerseys For SaleDiscount Liverpool JerseysWholesale Manchester City JerseysManchester United Jerseys For SaleWholesale Paris Saint-Germain JerseysReal Madrid Jerseys From ChinaCheap Sevilla JerseysAuthentic Tottenham Hotspur Jerseys ' ' '