The Buffalo Bills weren't finished adding quarterbacks after signing Matt Leinart on Sunday.
The team acquired fourth-year quarterback Thaddeus Lewis from the Detroit Lions, a source with knowledge of the trade told NFL.com's Albert Breer. In return, the Bills sent linebacker Chris White to the Lions, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported, per a source informed of the deal.
The Bills later announced the trade. ProFootballTalk first reported the transaction.
Following Pat Shurmur from the St. Louis Rams to the Cleveland Browns, Lewis has appeared in only one NFL game. He started the Browns' 2012 season finale, completing 22 of 32 passes for 204 yards and one touchdown with one interception in a 24-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The trade came about for several reasons, not least of which was the Lions' confidence in a stronger-armedKellen Moore as their No. 3 quarterback.
From the Bills' perspective, it's an apparent concession that Kevin Kolb has no timetable for a return. In fact, it would not be a surprise if Kolb spends time contemplating his NFL future after yet another head injury. It took months -- not weeks -- for Kolb to recover from his late-season 2011 concussion.
While Bills coach Doug Marrone still is holding out hope that rookie EJ Manuel will recover from knee surgery in time to start in the season opener versus the New England Patriots, the acquisition of Lewis is a tacit acknowledgement that it's far from a given.
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